Honolulu, HI (August 6, 2019) – The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced today the 2019 Watch List for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity. The Watch List is composed of 62 players from 32 different FBS schools.

Former University of Oregon, and current Tennessee Titans Quarterback, Marcus Mariota was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Award in 2014; former University of Notre Dame, and current Baltimore Ravens Offensive Lineman, Ronnie Stanley received the award in 2015; former University of Colorado Quarterback Sefo Liufau received the award in 2016; former Washington State, current Minnesota Vikings Defensive End Hercules Mata`afa received the award in 2017; and University of Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa received the award last year.

“The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award showcases the immense talent of our Polynesian student-athletes in college football today,” said Jesse Sapolu, Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Chairman, Co-Founder and Inductee. “The award has quickly become one of the most prestigious in all of college football.”

The winner of the 2019 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on December 17. Five finalists will be unveiled on December 5. The presentation of the Award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner (January 17, 2021) at the Sheraton Waikiki and they will also be recognized at halftime of the Polynesian Bowl (January 18, 2021) at Aloha Stadium.

The Watch List candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list may be made as the 2019 season progresses. The finalists and winner will be chosen by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee which includes Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL Player and Inaugural Inductee Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman), former NFL Player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, Inaugural Inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former NFL Player and Class of 2015 Inductee Ray Schoenke, ESPN Sportscaster Neil Everett, NFL Network commentator Steve Wyche, and Honolulu Sportscaster Robert Kekaula.

POLYNESIAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2019 WATCH LIST

Presented by the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel

First	Last	School	Pos	Class
Bradlee	Anae	Utah	DL	Senior
Junior	Angilau	Texas	OL	Freshman
Sione	Asi	Oklahoma State	DL	Junior
Devin	Asiasi	UCLA	TE	Junior
Julian	Blackmon	Utah	DB	Senior
AJ	Epenesa	Iowa	DL	Junior
Austin	Faoliu	Oregon	DL	Junior
Lorenzo	Fauatea	BYU	DL	Soph
Breiden	Fehoko	LSU	DE	Senior
Simi	Fehoko	Stanford	WR	Soph
TJ	Fialoa	ULM	OL	Junior
Mosese	Fifita	Air Force	DL	Senior
Leki	Fotu	Utah	DL	Senior
Dayton	Furuta	Hawaii	RB	Senior
Kavika	Fonua	BYU	LB	Junior
Tipa	Galeai	Utah State	DL	Senior
Palaie	Gaoteote	USC	LB	Soph
Alohi	Gilman	Notre Dame	DB	Junior
Aleva	Hifo	BYU	WR	Senior
Anthony	Hines	Texas A&M	LB	Soph
Talanoa	Hufanga	USC	DB	Soph
George	Holani	Boise State	RB	Freshman
Jordan	Iosefa	USC	LB	Senior
Kekaula	Kaniho	Boise State	DB	Junior
Isaiah	Kaufusi	BYU	LB	Junior
Donovan	Laie	Arizona	OL	Soph
Moroni	Laulu-Putuau	BYU	TE	Senior
Gus	Lavaka	Oregon State	OL	Senior
Kohl	Levao	Hawaii	OL	Senior
Fua	Leilua	Utah State	DL	Senior
Ray	Lima	Iowa State	DL	Senior
Jermayne	Lole	Arizona State	DL	Soph
Sonatane	Lui	Boise State	DL	Senior
Tyson	Maeva	Florida International	LB	Senior
Vavae	Malepeai	USC	RB	Junior
Cassh	Maluia	Wyoming	LB	Senior
Solomon	Matautia	Hawaii	LB	Senior
Frederick	Mauigoa	Washington State	OL	Senior
David	Moa	Boise State	DT	Senior
Viane	Moala	Utah	DL	Junior
Sosaia	Mose	North Texas	C	Senior
Manase	Mose	North Texas	OL	Soph
Netane	Muti	Fresno State	OL	Junior
Kekoa	Nawahine	Boise State	DB	Senior
Kanawai	Noa	Nebraska	WR	Senior
Kaimana	Padello	Hawaii	DL	Junior
Darrin	Paulo	Utah	OL	Senior
Penei	Pavihi	Hawaii	LB	Junior
John	Penisini	Utah	DL	Senior
Brandon	Pili	USC	DL	Junior
Justin	Polu	UNLV	OL	Senior
Benning	Potoa'e	Washington	DL	Senior
Merlin	Robertson	Arizona State	LB	Soph
Jalen	Sami	Colorado	DL	Freshman
Gabriel	Sewell	Nevada	LB	Senior
Penei	Sewell	Oregon	OL	Soph
Mika	Tafua	Utah	DL	Soph
Boss	Tagaloa	UCLA	OL	Senior
Myron	Tagovailoa-Amosa	Notre Dame	DL	Junior
Tua	Tagovailoa	Alabama	QB	Junior
Toa	Taua	Nevada	RB	Soph
Noah	Togiai	Oregon State	TE	Senior
Khyiris	Tonga	BYU	DL	Junior
Henry	To`o To`o	Tennessee	LB	Freshman
Andru	Tovi	Kansas	OL	Senior
Jay	Tufele	USC	DL	Soph
Marlon	Tuipulotu	USC	DL	Soph
Samuela	Tuihalamaka	Oklahoma State	DL	Freshman
Kolo	Uasike	UNLV	DL	Soph
Christopher	Unga	Utah State	LB	Senior
Solo	Vaipulu	Hawaii	OL	Soph

 

About the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame: The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame honors Polynesia’s greatest players, coaches and contributors. Its permanent home is located at the Polynesian Cultural Center (O`ahu) and was established in 2013 by Super Bowl Champions Jesse Sapolu and Ma`a Tanuvasa. Other board members include Troy Polamalu, Vai Sikahema, June Jones and Reno Mahe. www.PolynesianFootballHOF.org.

About the Polynesian Bowl: The Polynesian Bowl is held annually during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week and is televised LIVE on CBS Sports Network. Major sponsors include BodyArmor, CrossCountry Mortgage, Friends of Hawai’i Charities, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii Building & Construction Trades Council, Hawai’i News Now, Hawai’i Tourism Authority, Motiv8 Foundation, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel and Riddell.