First-year UCLA Bruin linebacker Sammy Omosigho has been nothing short of extraordinary this season. Not only did Omosigho quickly assert himself on his new team, he’s asserted himself as one of the best players in the country.

On Wednesday, Omosigho was named a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Award, a yearly award given to the top player in the country. Omosigho was the only Bruin to earn a semifinalist nod, with the UCLA linebacker making a compelling case.

It’ll be an uphill battle for a defender to win the award, with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza winning the award in 2025. It’s a regular season award, with the winner set to be announced on December 11 at the ESPN College Football Awards Show.

Through nine games this season, Omosigho has made 61 tackles with 5.5 sacks, four passes defensed and an NCAA-leading five forced fumbles. Omosigho was alone at the top of the country for much of the season but UAB’s Marlin Dean has joined him with the five forced tackles.

The 2026 Walter Camp Award winner will be the 60th winner, with only three defenders having ever won the award. It’ll likely take a few more big games for Omosigho to become the fourth defender to win the award with Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker, Notre Dame QB C.J. Carr, Miami (FL) WR Malachi Toney, Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith and Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss headlining the semifinalist list.

UCLA landed Omosigho in the transfer portal from Oklahoma, and after beginning his college season as a rotational player, he’s become a star in Westwood. Even if he doesn’t win the Walter Camp Award, Omosigho will be earning some sort of national awards for his tremendous play this season.