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.