Polynesian Football Hall of Hame Announces 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List

Honolulu, HI (August 14, 2025) – The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced today the Watch List for the 2025 Polynesian College Player of the Year Award. Presented annually, the award honors the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who exemplifies exceptional ability and integrity both on and off the field. This year’s list features 81 players from 40 different NCAA Division I programs.

“The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award has become one of the most prestigious honors in college football,” said Jesse Sapolu, Chairman, Co-Founder, and Inductee of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. “It is a source of great pride for our community, recognizing the outstanding achievements of Polynesian student-athletes and giving us a powerful platform to share our culture with the world.”

The 2025 Watch List was compiled based on past performance and potential for the upcoming season. Additional players will be added to the Watch List as the year unfolds. The finalists and winner will be selected by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, comprised of Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee), 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, NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche, and former NFL Player and Class of 2023 Inductee Manti Te`o.

Finalists for the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on December 9, 2025 and the winner will be announced on December 16, 2025. The presentation of the Award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (January 17, 2026), and they will also be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (January 16, 2026).

Since its inception in 2014, the Award has honored an elite group of players who have made a lasting impact on the game. Past recipients include inaugural winner Marcus Mariota (2014, University of Oregon/Washington Commanders), Ronnie Stanley (2015, University of Notre Dame/Baltimore Ravens), Sefo Liufau (2016, University of Colorado), Hercules Mata`afa (2017, Washington State University), two-time honoree Tua Tagovailoa (2018 & 2019, University of Alabama/Miami Dolphins), Penei Sewell (2019, University of Oregon/Detroit Lions), Talanoa Hufanga (2020, University of Southern California/Denver Broncos), Zach Kapono Wilson (2020, BYU/Miami Dolphins), Haskell Garrett (2021, Ohio State), Tuli Tuipulotu (2022, USC/Los Angeles Chargers), Laiatu Latu (2023, UCLA/Indianapolis Colts), Taulia Tagovailoa (2023, University of Maryland), and most recently Tetairoa McMillan (2024, University of Arizona/Carolina Panthers).

2025 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. There are currently 47 inductees. For more information, visit PolynesianFootballHOF.org.

About the Polynesian Bowl: The Polynesian Bowl is the premier all-star game played annually in Honolulu, Hawai`i that features 100 of the nation’s top ranked high school 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, Nico Iamaleava, Dakorien Moore and Husan Longstreet. The game is broadcast live and in primetime on NFL Network. For more information, visit PolynesianBowl.com.