For the second consecutive season, JT Tuimoloau is up for a national award that pays tribute to his Polynesian ancestry.
On Thursday, the Ohio State defensive end was named a finalist for the Polynesian Player of the Year Award, an honor presented to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who shows standout ability and integrity on and off the field. Tuimoloau is one of 10 players nominated for the accolade:
- Jonah Elliss, Utah, DL
- Troy Fautanu, Washington, OL
- Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State, OL
- Laiatu Latu, UCLA, DL
- Tetairoa McMillen, Arizona, WR
- Jaydn Ott, California, RB
- Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland, QB
- JT Tuimoloau, DL
- Sione Vaki, Utah, DB
Tuimoloau recorded 34 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery across 12 appearances for the Buckeyes in 2023. He and his fellow finalists were selected from a watch list of nearly 100 players by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, which includes former NFL players Jack "The Throwin Samoan" Thompson, Olin Kreutz and Ray Schoenke, coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former ESPN sportscaster Neil Everett and NFL Network reporter Steve Wyche.
Former winners of the award include Marcus Mariota (Oregon, 2014), Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame, 2015), Sefo Liufau (Colorado, 2016), Hercules Mata'afa (Washington State, 2017), Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama, 2018 and 2019), Talanoa Hufanga (USC, 2020), Haskell Garrett (Ohio State, 2021) and Tuli Tuipulotu (USC, 2022).
The winner of the 2023 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year will be announced on Dec. 14. The presentation of the award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner on Jan. 20, 2024, at the Sheraton Waikiki. The winner will also be recognized at halftime of the Polynesian Bowl on Jan. 19, 2024.
In 2020, Tuimoloau was named the Polynesian Football Player of the Year at the high school level. The award came one season after the Tacoma, Washington, native was named a USA TODAY High School All-American for his 64 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and two fumble recoveries for Eastside Catholic in 2019.
