2024 POLYNESIAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Honolulu, HI (August 15, 2024) – The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced today the 2024 Watch List for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity. The Watch List is composed of 96 players from 37 different FBS schools.
“The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award has become one of the most prestigious awards in all of college football,” said Jesse Sapolu, Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Chairman, Co-Founder, and Inductee. “This award means so much to our people as it showcases the tremendous impact that our Polynesian student-athletes are having on the game of football, and gives us an opportunity to share our culture with the world.”
The Watch List candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list will be made as the 2024 season progresses. The finalists and winner will be chosen by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee which includes former NFL Player and Inaugural Inductee Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman), Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, 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, sportscaster Neil Everett, and NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche.
Five finalists for the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on December 3 and the winner will be announced on December 17. The presentation of the Award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner (January 18, 2025) at the Sheraton Waikiki, and they will also be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (January 17, 2025).
Former University of Oregon, Washington Commanders QB Marcus Mariota was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Award in 2014; former University of Notre Dame, Baltimore Ravens OL Ronnie Stanley in 2015; former University of Colorado QB Sefo Liufau in 2016; former Washington State University, former Minnesota Vikings DE Hercules Mata`afa in 2017; former University of Alabama, Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in 2018 & 2019; former University of Oregon, Detroit Lions OL Penei Sewell in 2019; former University of Southern California, San Francisco 49ers Safety Talanoa Hufanga, and former Brigham Young University, Denver Broncos QB Zach Kapono Wilson in 2020; former DL at The Ohio State University Haskell Garrett in 2021; former University of Southern California, Los Angeles Chargers DL Tuli Tuipulotu in 2022; and former UCLA, Indianapolis Colts DL Laiatu Latu and former University of Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa in 2023.
2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
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 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. There are currently 47 inductees. The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame has provided over $300,000 in college scholarships to date. For more information, go to PolynesianFootballHOF.org.
ABOUT THE POLYNESIAN BOWL
The Polynesian Bowl is a premier all-star game played annually in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi that features 100 of the nation’s top-ranked high school juniors and seniors of Polynesian and non-Polynesian ancestry alike – many of whom have gone on to play in the NFL. Past MVPs include AJ Epenesa, Puka Nacua, Travis Hunter, and Nico Iamaleava. The game is broadcast live and in primetime on NFL Network. For more information, visit PolynesianBowl.com.