Marcus Mariota is among 24 players on the watch list for the inaugural Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year Award.
The winner of the award, which is presented by Hawaiian Airlines, will be honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend, Jan. 29-30 on Oahu.
The winner will be announced Dec. 8, after five finalists are named Dec. 8.
The finalists and the winner will be chosen by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
Mariota, the Tennessee Titans quarterback who made his NFL debut in record-breaking fashion with four touchdown passes Sunday, won the PFHOF’s Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award last year.
Mariota, a graduate of Saint Louis School, won the 2014 Heisman Trophy and led Oregon to the BCS national championship game. He was the second pick in the draft after 2013 Heisman winner Jameis Winston was chosen by Tampa Bay. On Sunday, Mariota completed 13 of 16 passes for 209 yards to lead the Titans to a 42-14 win over the Bucs and their quarterback, Winston.
CFL star Chad Owens (Roosevelt, University of Hawaii), San Diego Chargers linebacker and 2012 Heisman runner-up Manti Te’o (Punahou), Washington Redskins veteran offensive lineman Shawn Lauvao (Farrington) and New Orleans Saints rookie linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha (Kahuku) are other players from Hawaii on the watch list.
POLYNESIAN PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WATCH LIST
Jordan Cameron, Miami Dolphins, TE
Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers, WR
Jarryd Hayne, San Francisco 49ers, RB/KR
Mike Iupati, Arizona Cardinals, OL
Hau‘oli Kikaha, New Orleans Saints, LB
Shawn Lauvao, Washington Redskins, OL
Star Lotulelei, Carolina Panthers, DT
Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans, QB
Rey Maualuga, Cincinnati Bengals, LB
Josh Mauga Kansas City Chiefs, LB
Roy Miller, Jacksonville Jaguars, DT
Koa Misi, Miami Dolphins, LB
Haloti Ngata, Detroit Lions, DT
Chad Owens, Toronto Argonauts (CFL), SB/KR
Stephen Paea, Washington Redskins, DE
Domata Peko, Cincinnati Bengals, DT
Jeremiah Poutasi, Tennessee Titans, OL
Brian Schwenke, Tennessee Titans, OL
Danny Shelton, Cleveland Browns, DL
Sealver Siliga, New England Patriots, DT
Paul Soliai, Atlanta Falcons, DT
Manti Te’o, San Diego Chargers, LB
Uani’ Unga, New York Giants, LB
Larry Warford, Detroit Lions, OL
