{"id":239292,"date":"2026-08-20T14:51:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T00:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=239292"},"modified":"2026-08-20T14:51:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T00:51:38","slug":"warriors-polynesian-player-watchlist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/08\/20\/warriors-polynesian-player-watchlist\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Warriors named to Polynesian Player of the Year watch list"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>

\"Polynesian<\/p>\n

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa football team placed five members on the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List, announced by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n

Warriors on this year’s watch list are sophomore quarterback Micah Alejado, senior wide receiver Pofele Ashlock, junior safety Kona Moore, senior safety Matagi Thompson and sophomore wide receiver Tama Uiliata.<\/p>\n

The award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who epitomizes exceptional ability and integrity. This year’s watch list features 69 players from 36 different NCAA<\/abbr> Division I<\/abbr> programs.<\/p>\n

This year’s selection marks the third consecutive watch list appearance for Ashlock. Alejado, Moore, Thompson and Uiliata are making their debuts on the national list.<\/p>\n

Five finalists for the award will be announced on December 8, with the winner announced on December 15. The winner will be formally recognized during the Polynesian Bowl on January 15, and presented with the trophy at the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner on January 16.<\/p>\n

Read more at Hawaiiathletics.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Micah Alejado, Pofele Ashlock, Kona Moore, Matagi Thompson and Tama Uiliata were named to the watch list. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":239300,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1362],"tags":[58,83,9,550],"class_list":["post-239292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-athletics","tag-athletics","tag-football","tag-uh-manoa","tag-manoa-athletics","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t