Washington has a storied history of Polynesian football players, one that has continued to build as the Huskies have turned talents like Vita Vea into NFL stars.
2024 may very well bring another notch in that belt, as three Huskies were named to the College Football Player of the Year watchlist by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.
Offensive linemen Soane Faasolo and Paki Finau and linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala were named to the 96-player watch list, headlined by Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and former No. 1 player in Washington JT Tuimoloau of Ohio State.
Former Husky Laiatu Latu was named the College Football Defensive Player of the Year by the committee last year, while Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa took home Offensive Player of the Year awards.
Despite the storied history of Polynesian football players on Montlake, which includes inaugural Polynesian Hall of Fame inductee Olin Kreutz (also on the voting committee), no Husky has ever won Player of the Year honors. Offensive lineman Troy Fautanu was a finalist last season.
Faasolo and Finau are battling for starting jobs on the Huskies’ offensive line at left tackle and left guard, respectively. Both will likely make the watchlist for years to come, as Faasolo is a redshirt freshman and Finau is a true freshman.
Tuputala returns as a starter alongside Carson Bruener at linebacker following a solid season that included his first career interception. The redshirt senior out of Federal Way is expected to be a defensive leader for the Huskies in 2024.