The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced the 2015 watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award earlier this week. The list includes Kealakehe graduates Peni Vea and Psalm Wooching. ADVERTISING The Polynesian Football Hall of
The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced the 2015 watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award earlier this week. The list includes Kealakehe graduates Peni Vea and Psalm Wooching.
“There are nearly 300 players of Polynesian Ancestry in Division I college football today,” said Jesse Sapolu, chairman and co-Founder. “This award showcases their incredible talents and gives us a platform to celebrate their success as student-athletes.”
Vea, a senior safety at UNLV and 2011 Kealakehe grad, earned Honorable Mention All-MW in 2014 after starting 12 games, while only missing one contest because of injury. He finished second on the team with 88 total tackles, including 7.5 for a loss. He was named Preseason First Team-All MW by Phil Steele and second team by Athlon.
Wooching is a linebacker at Washington and key special-teams contributor. He played in eight of Washington’s games during the 2014 season.
The watch list is composed of 36 players from 19 schools and six conferences including the Pac-12 Conference (17), Mountain West Conference (7), Big 12 Conference (3), Sun Belt Conference (2), and the Big 10 Conference (1).
The award is presented annually to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity. Former University of Oregon, and current Tennessee Titans Quarterback, Marcus Mariota was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Award in 2014.
OL Siaosi Aiono, Utah
DE Kalei Auelua, New Mexico State
DL DeForest Buckner, Oregon
DL Kamalei Correa, Boise State
LB Su’a Cravens, USC
K Ka’imi Fairbairn, UCLA
TE Siale Fakailoatonga, Utah
OL Alex Fifita, Fresno State
QB Salamo Fiso, Arizona State
OL Isaiah Folasa-Lutui, New Mexico State
OL Tuni Kanuch, BYU
OL Nila Kasitati, Oklahoma
DL Bronson Kaufusi, BYU
OL Ului Lapuaho, BYU
QB Sefo Liufau, Colorado
OL Toa Lobendahn, USC
LB Tau Lotulelei, UNLV
DL Lowell Lotulelei, Utah
LB Laiu Moeakiola, Arizona State
DL Bryan Mone, Michigan
LB Manoa Pikula, BYU
DL Ian Seau, Nevada
OL Isaac Seumalo, Oregon State
WR JuJu Smith, USC
QB Anu Solomon, Arizona
OL Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
LB Christian Tago, San Jose State
OL Viane Talamaivao, USC
OL Vi Teofilo, Arizona State
DL Mike Tuaua, TCU
OL Siosifa Tufunga, Washington
DL Travis Tuiloma, BYU
DL Kennedy Tulimasealii, Hawaii
OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai, TCU
DB Peni Vea, UNLV
OL Psalm Wooching, Washington
