Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award explained

Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award
Description:Given to the outstanding Polynesian football player at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football that epitomize great ability and integrity.
Presenter:Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
Country:United States
Location:Honolulu, Hawaii
Year:2014 (College)
2015 (Pro)
2017 (High School)
Website:https://www.polynesianfootballhof.org

The Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award, instituted in 2014 by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, is given annually to the most outstanding player of Polynesian descent at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football.

The award was first established in 2014[1] and initially only recognized the best Polynesian college football player. The award was expanded in 2015 to recognize Polynesian professional football players[2] and was expanded yet again in 2017 to recognize Polynesian high school football players.[3]

Recipients

High school winners

Year Player School Ref
2017 [4]
2018 [5]
Taulia TagovailoaThompson High School (Alabaster, AL)
2019 [6]
2020 [7]
2021 [8]
2022 [9]
2023Dylan RaiolaBuford High School (Buford, GA)[10]
Isaac WilsonCorner Canyon High School (Draper, UT)

Collegiate winners

Year Player School Ref
2014[11]
2015[12]
2016[13]
2017[14]
2018[15]
2019 [16]
Tua TagovailoaAlabama
2020[17]
Zach WilsonBYU
2021Haskell GarrettOhio State[18]
2022Tuli TuipulotuUSC[19]
2023Laiatu Latu (DPOY)UCLA[20]
Taulia Tagovailoa (OPOY)Maryland

Professional winners

Year Player Team Ref
2015 [21]
2016 [22]
2017 [23]
2018 [24]
2019 [25]
2020 [26]
2021 No award given
2022 Tua Tagovailoa (OPOY) [27]
Talanoa Hufanga (DPOY)San Francisco 49ers
2023 [28]

Notes and References

  1. News: Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Announces the Establishment of the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. February 2, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. July 23, 2014.
  2. News: Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year Watch List Announced. February 2, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. September 15, 2015.
  3. News: Polynesian Hall of Fame Announces New Polynesian High School Player of the Year Award and Watch List. February 2, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. August 1, 2017.
  4. News: Talonoa Hufanga named Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year. January 17, 2023. High School Football America. January 21, 2018.
  5. News: Nacua, Tagovailoa named Polynesian HS FB Co-Players of the Year. January 17, 2023. 247sports. January 18, 2019.
  6. News: DJ UIAGALELEI NAMED POLYNESIAN HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR. January 17, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. January 17, 2020.
  7. News: J.T. TUIMOLOAU NAMED THE 2020–21 POLYNESIAN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR. January 17, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. May 26, 2021.
  8. News: TETAIROA MCMILLAN NAMED 2021 POLYNESIAN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR. January 17, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. December 6, 2021.
  9. News: QB Nico Iamaleava Named 2022 Polynesian Football High School Player of the Year. January 24, 2023. 247sports. January 21, 2023.
  10. Web site: Dylan Raiola, Isaac Wilson named 2023 Polynesian High School Football Players of the Year . 2024-02-01 . 247Sports . en.
  11. News: University of Oregon Quarterback Marcus Mariota Named Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. January 17, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. December 9, 2014.
  12. News: NOTRE DAME OFFENSIVE LINEMAN RONNIE STANLEY NAMED POLYNESIAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR. January 17, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. December 8, 2015.
  13. News: University of Colorado Quarterback Sefo Liufau Named Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. January 17, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. December 7, 2016.
  14. News: Washington State Defensive Lineman Hercules Mata'afa Named Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. January 17, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. December 12, 2017.
  15. News: University of Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa Named Polynesian College Player of the Year. January 17, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. December 13, 2018.
  16. News: TUA TAGOVAILOA AND PENEI SEWELL NAMED POLYNESIAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR. January 17, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. December 17, 2019.
  17. News: USC SAFETY TALANOA HUFANGA AND BYU QUARTERBACK ZACH KAPONO WILSON NAMED 2020 POLYNESIAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR. January 17, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. January 12, 2021.
  18. News: December 22, 2021 . ANNOUNCING THE 2021 POLYNESIAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR . January 17, 2023 . Polynesian Football HOF.
  19. News: December 13, 2022 . ANNOUNCING THE 2022 POLYNESIAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR . January 17, 2023 . Polynesian Football HOF.
  20. Web site: Maryland's Taulia Tagovailoa, UCLA's Laiatu Latu named 2023 Polynesian College Football Players of the Year . 2023-12-15 . 247Sports . en.
  21. News: ARIZONA CARDINALS OFFENSIVE LINEMAN MIKE IUPATI NAMED POLYNESIAN PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR. January 24, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. January 5, 2016.
  22. News: Tennessee Titans Quarterback Marcus Mariota Named Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year. January 24, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. January 5, 2017.
  23. News: Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster Named Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year. January 24, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. January 4, 2018.
  24. News: JuJu Smith-Schuster Named Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year; Ka'imi Fairbairn to Receive Kūpono Award for Excellence. January 24, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. January 3, 2019.
  25. News: Former Notre Dame standout Ronnie Stanley named Polynesian Player of the Year. January 24, 2023. South Bend Tribune. January 7, 2020.
  26. News: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS DEFENSIVE LINEMAN DEFOREST BUCKNER NAMED POLYNESIAN PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR. January 24, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. January 21, 2021.
  27. News: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS SAFETY TALANOA HUFANGA AND MIAMI DOLPHINS QUARTERBACK TUA TAGOVAILOA NAMED POLYNESIAN PRO FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY HAWAIIAN AIRLINES. January 24, 2023. Polynesian Football HOF. January 12, 2023.
  28. News: MIAMI DOLPHINS QUARTERBACK TUA TAGOVAILOA NAMED POLYNESIAN PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY HAWAIIAN AIRLINES. January 14, 2024. Polynesian Football HOF. January 11, 2024.