Senior defensive lineman Tueni Lupeamanu is on the 2016 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch list.
 
Lupeamanu, Herriman (Utah) High School, returns to the defensive line as a full-time starter.  He totaled 40 tackles in 2015 – 25 solo and 15 assists to go with three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, one sack and one fumble recovery.
 
He is one of 38 players on the Watch List, which is in its third season. The first two recipients were Marcus Mariota and Ronny Stanley – both first-round draft choices. Former Vandal Mike Iupati, a first-round draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers (now with Arizona) and a consensus All-American following the 2009 season, is a member of the Polynesian College Football Hall of Fame.
 
This year's list will be narrowed to five finalists, which will be revealed Nov. 17. The winner will be announced Dec. 7 with the awards ceremony scheduled for Jan. 20, 2017 in conjunction with Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend.