10 Utah Utes football players named to Polynesian Player of the Year watch list

In exactly two weeks, the Utah Utes football team will start showing the world just how good they can be in 2024. When they kick off the season against Southern Utah, there are quite a few players who will be vying for an elite title and elite award.

No fewer than 10 Utes were named to the prestigious watch list for the Polynesian Player of the Year award on Thursday morning. The list is composed of 96 players from 37 different FBS schools. That of course means that Kyle Whittingham's squad makes up more than 10 percent of the total list.

“The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award has become one of the most prestigious awards in all of college football,” said Jesse Sapolu, Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Chairman, Co-Founder, and Inductee, in a release. “This award means so much to our people as it showcases the tremendous impact that our Polynesian student-athletes are having on the game of football, and gives us an opportunity to share our culture with the world.”

Utah Utes football players vie for prestigious award

It's important to note that the nine Utah Utes football players will also be competing against players that could be added as the season goes on. As is the case with most of these watch lists, they are updated and changed depending on how the campaign goes.

The Utah Utes players that are currently on the Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List are:

• Logan Fano (DL)
• Spencer Fano (OL)
• Alaka'i Gilman (S)
• Caleb Lomu (OL)
• Michael Mokofisi (OL)
• Simote Pepa (DL)
• Karene Reid (LB)
• Junior Tafuna (DL)
• Keanu Tanuvasa (DL)
• Tanoa Togiai (OL)

Since the award was officially unveiled in 2014, no Utah Utes football player has been named the Polynesian Player of the Year. However, with so many candidates on the list this season, it's possible that 2024 could be the year.