On the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award watch list, released on Friday, the Longhorns were well represented. Two Texas players, Jermayne Lole and Tiaoalii Savae, made the list. The talented duo will be looking to make an impact in their first year in Austin.
Lole is a graduate student who transferred from Louisville. The former Cardinal defensive lineman appeared in 14 games over the past two seasons. In that span, he recorded 19 tackles and five sacks. In his college career, Lole also spent some time at Arizona State, recording 123 tackles in 28 games.
For Savea, this marks the second straight year he has been included on the list. In 12 games last season for Arizona, the Las Vegas native recorded 22 total tackles, including six for a loss. He added 1.5 sacks to his resume and tallied multiple tackles in seven games. Before Arizona, Savea spent one season at UCLA, recording seven tackles in 10 games.
While expectations are high for Lole and Savae, they have plenty of time to make their case. The winner of the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on Dec.17. They will also be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl, which takes place in January.
For Lole and Savae, their focus is making a good first impression and helping Texas win a national championship. If they can replicate their success from their previous stops, they could add more accolades to their resumes by season’s end.