HONOLULU – Twenty-one Mountain West football student-athletes are among the 86 players named to the initial watch list for the 2023 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award, as announced by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame on Thursday.

The award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity.

The Mountain West’s 21 players on the watch list are second only to the Pac-12, which put 40 players on the initial watch list. The Big 12 is third with nine.

Hawai‘i paces the Mountain West with six players on the watch list, followed by San José State and Utah State with three each. Fresno State, San Diego State and Wyoming have two apiece, with Boise State, Nevada and New Mexico boasting one each.

Nine of the league’s 12 programs are represented on the initial watch list.

The watch list candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list will be made as the 2023 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, ESPN Sportscaster Neil Everett, and NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche.

The winner of the 2023 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on Dec. 14. Five finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 30. The presentation of the award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner (Jan. 20, 2024) at the Sheraton Waikiki, and they will also be recognized at halftime of the Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 19, 2024).

Former University of Oregon, Philadelphia Eagles 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, New York Jets QB Zach Kapono Wilson in 2020; former DL at The Ohio State University Haskell Garrett  in 2021; and former University of Southern California, Los Angeles Chargers DL Tuli Tuipulotu in 2022.

POLYNESIAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST (MW selections)

George Holani, Running Back, Boise State

Levelle Bailey, Linebacker, Fresno State

Mose Vavao, Offensive Lineman, Fresno State

Jonah Kahahawai-Welch, Defensive Lineman, Hawai‘i

Sergio Muasau, Offensive Lineman, Hawai‘i

Jonah Panoke, Wide Receiver, Hawai‘i

Eliki Tanuvasa, Offensive Lineman, Hawai‘i

John Tuitupou, Defensive Lineman, Hawai‘i

Solo Vaipulu, Offensive Lineman, Hawai‘i

Keleki Latu, Tight End, Nevada

Noa Pola-Gates, Safety, New Mexico

Tupu Alualu, Defensive Lineman, San Diego State

Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli, Offensive Lineman, San Diego State

Chevan Cordeiro, Quarterback, San José State

Marist Talavou, Offensive Lineman, San José State

Soane Toia, Defensive Lineman, San José State

Falepule Alo, Offensive Lineman, Utah State

Hale Motu’apuaka, Defensive Lineman, Utah State

MJ Tafisi Jr., Linebacker, Utah State

Shae Suiaunoa, Linebacker, Wyoming

Nofoafia Tulafono, Offensive Lineman, Wyoming