HONOLULU, HI. -- For the third season in a row, Maryland redshirt senior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa was announced as one of 10 finalists for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award on Thursday by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity.
Tagovailoa has now been selected as a finalist for this award in each of the past three seasons. The Ewa Beach, Hawaii native, of Samoan descent, was a 2019 Polynesian Bowl All-Star as a senior in high school.
A Second Team All-Big Ten selection, Tagovailoa leads the Big Ten in nearly every passing category, standing atop the league in passing yards (3,377), passing touchdowns (25), completions (290), points responsible for (182) and total offense (3,395). Maryland's all-time passing leader in every category, Tagovailoa became the Big Ten's all-time passing leader against Rutgers, now with 11,256 career passing yards. Tagovailoa has thrown a touchdown in 11 of 12 games and thrown for at least 250 yards in nine of 12 games this season.
The other 2023 finalists are Jonah Elliss (Utah), Troy Fautanu (Washington), Taliese Fauga (Oregon State), Laiatu Latu (UCLA), Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Jaydn Ott (California), Dominick Puni (Kansas), J.T. Tuimooloau (Ohio State), and Sione Vaki Utah).
The winner of the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on December 14, 2023. The formal presentation of the Award will be held at the 2024 Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (January 20, 2024) and they will be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (January 19, 2024).
Tagovailoa's older brother and Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, is a two-time recipient of this award, winning in both 2018 & 2019 while at Alabama. Last year the award went to former USC DL Tuli Tuipulotu.
Tagovailoa has now been selected as a finalist for this award in each of the past three seasons. The Ewa Beach, Hawaii native, of Samoan descent, was a 2019 Polynesian Bowl All-Star as a senior in high school.
A Second Team All-Big Ten selection, Tagovailoa leads the Big Ten in nearly every passing category, standing atop the league in passing yards (3,377), passing touchdowns (25), completions (290), points responsible for (182) and total offense (3,395). Maryland's all-time passing leader in every category, Tagovailoa became the Big Ten's all-time passing leader against Rutgers, now with 11,256 career passing yards. Tagovailoa has thrown a touchdown in 11 of 12 games and thrown for at least 250 yards in nine of 12 games this season.
The other 2023 finalists are Jonah Elliss (Utah), Troy Fautanu (Washington), Taliese Fauga (Oregon State), Laiatu Latu (UCLA), Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Jaydn Ott (California), Dominick Puni (Kansas), J.T. Tuimooloau (Ohio State), and Sione Vaki Utah).
The winner of the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on December 14, 2023. The formal presentation of the Award will be held at the 2024 Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (January 20, 2024) and they will be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (January 19, 2024).
Tagovailoa's older brother and Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, is a two-time recipient of this award, winning in both 2018 & 2019 while at Alabama. Last year the award went to former USC DL Tuli Tuipulotu.
