Bronson Kaufusi takes down a player in a game against UNLV last November. Kaufusi is one of five BYU players on the 2015 Polynesian College Player of the Year Award watch list. (Ari Davis)
Five BYU football players were added to the watch list for the 2015 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award.
Bronson Kaufusi, Travis Tuiloma, Manoa Pikula, Tuni Kanuch and Ului Lapuaho made BYU the most represented school on the watch list, with Cougars representing five of the 36 openings.
BYU has more players on the watch list than any other school.
According to a press release, the Polynesian College Football Award is annually presented to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player who 'epitomizes great ability and integrity.' The candidates are selected based on past performance and future potential.
This is the fourth watch list defensive lineman Kaufusi has been added to during the preseason. The 6-foot-7-inch, 265-pound senior has been named to watch lists for the Lombardi Award, Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award. He was also nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
Tuiloma, a 6-foot-2-inch, 285-pound junior defensive lineman, was also named to watch lists for the Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy.
This is the second watch list for 6-foot-1-inch, 239-pound senior linebacker Pikula, who was named to the Lombardi Award watch list in July.
“There are nearly 300 players of Polynesian Ancestry in Division I college football today,” said Jesse Sapolu, chairman and co-founder in the press release. “This award showcases their incredible talents and gives us a platform to celebrate their success as student-athletes.”
The 2015 Polynesian College Football of the Year winner will be announced Dec. 8, 2015.