WR Titus Mokiao-Atimalala
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Four Bruins Land on Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
August 14, 2025 | Football
HONOLULU โ Four student-athletes on the UCLA football team were named to the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List, it was announced by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Thursday morning. The group of Bruins includes quarterback Nico Iamaleava, wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala and defensive linemen Siale Taupaki and Keanu Williams.
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Presented annually since 2014, 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. Former Bruin defensive end Laiatu Latu was named the 2023 Polynesian College Football Defensive Player of the Year his senior season in 2023. Latu, who was also the winner of the Lombardi Award and Ted Hendricks Award that season, led the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and ranked fourth in sacks per game (1.08).
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Iamaleava was a 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Finalist in his first season as a starter at Tennessee. The Long Beach, Calif. native returns home after leading the Volunteers to a 11-3 record as the starting quarterback and a College Football Playoff appearance last season. Iamaleava finished last season completing 213-of-334 passes (63.8%) for 2,616 yards (201.2 yards per game) and nine touchdowns with five interceptions. He totaled 299-plus yards of total offense in three contests against UT-Chattanooga (320), Kentucky (306) and Vanderbilt (299). A master of the deep ball, Iamaleava ranked second in the Southeastern Conference with six 50-plus-yard completions last season.
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Mokiao-Atimalala played in nine games, including seven starts, in his redshirt junior campaign in 2024. He closed last year on a high note with a season-best six grabs for 49 yards against USC and a season-long 28-yard completion versus Fresno State in the final two weeks. The Ewa Beach, Hawaii product totaled 28 catches for 294 yards (10.5 yards per reception) and one touchdown.
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This marks the second time that Tuapaki has been included on the Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List, also earning a spot in his redshirt freshman season in 2023. Taupaki saw the most consistent playing time of his career last season, appearing in all 12 games and making seven starts on the defensive line after spending the previous year as an offensive lineman. He totaled 23 tackles (14-9-23) and 1.0 sack.
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Williams returns to the Bruins' defensive line unit after his 2024 campaign was cut short due to injury in the second game of the season. He has totaled 20 tackles (9-11-20) and 1.5 sacks over 26 career games across stints at Oregon (2021-22) and UCLA (2023-24).
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The 2025 Watch List was compiled based on past performance and potential for the upcoming season. Finalists for the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on Dec. 9, 2025 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 16, 2025. The presentation of the Award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (Jan. 17, 2026), and they will also be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, 2026).
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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.
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UCLA's Ticket Information
UCLA opens the 2025 season at home at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California versus Utah on Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. (PT).ย Single-gameย andย season ticketsย for UCLA's upcoming football season are now available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information.
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Presented annually since 2014, 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. Former Bruin defensive end Laiatu Latu was named the 2023 Polynesian College Football Defensive Player of the Year his senior season in 2023. Latu, who was also the winner of the Lombardi Award and Ted Hendricks Award that season, led the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and ranked fourth in sacks per game (1.08).
ย
Iamaleava was a 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Finalist in his first season as a starter at Tennessee. The Long Beach, Calif. native returns home after leading the Volunteers to a 11-3 record as the starting quarterback and a College Football Playoff appearance last season. Iamaleava finished last season completing 213-of-334 passes (63.8%) for 2,616 yards (201.2 yards per game) and nine touchdowns with five interceptions. He totaled 299-plus yards of total offense in three contests against UT-Chattanooga (320), Kentucky (306) and Vanderbilt (299). A master of the deep ball, Iamaleava ranked second in the Southeastern Conference with six 50-plus-yard completions last season.
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Mokiao-Atimalala played in nine games, including seven starts, in his redshirt junior campaign in 2024. He closed last year on a high note with a season-best six grabs for 49 yards against USC and a season-long 28-yard completion versus Fresno State in the final two weeks. The Ewa Beach, Hawaii product totaled 28 catches for 294 yards (10.5 yards per reception) and one touchdown.
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This marks the second time that Tuapaki has been included on the Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List, also earning a spot in his redshirt freshman season in 2023. Taupaki saw the most consistent playing time of his career last season, appearing in all 12 games and making seven starts on the defensive line after spending the previous year as an offensive lineman. He totaled 23 tackles (14-9-23) and 1.0 sack.
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Williams returns to the Bruins' defensive line unit after his 2024 campaign was cut short due to injury in the second game of the season. He has totaled 20 tackles (9-11-20) and 1.5 sacks over 26 career games across stints at Oregon (2021-22) and UCLA (2023-24).
ย
The 2025 Watch List was compiled based on past performance and potential for the upcoming season. Finalists for the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on Dec. 9, 2025 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 16, 2025. The presentation of the Award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (Jan. 17, 2026), and they will also be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, 2026).
ย
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.
ย
UCLA's Ticket Information
UCLA opens the 2025 season at home at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California versus Utah on Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. (PT).ย Single-gameย andย season ticketsย for UCLA's upcoming football season are now available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information.
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