LOGAN, Utah – Utah State offensive linemen Demytrick Ali'ifua and Falepule Alo were both named to the 2021 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List, it was announced Thursday by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.
 
The award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesia ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity. This year's watch list is comprised of 63 players from 31 different Football Bowl Subdivision schools.
 
"The participation, prestige and excellence of Polynesian players continues to grow in college football," said Jesse Sapolu, Polynesian Football Hall of Fame chairman, co-founder and inductee. "This award allows us to showcase the very best in our community."
 
Ali'ifua and Alo are two of 15 players from the Beehive State and 18 players from the Mountain West on the watch list.
 
Ali'ifua, a 6-foot-3, 320-pound senior from San Leandro, California, earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors in 2020 after starting in all six of the Aggies' games, including two at center and four at left guard. He played in 312 offensive snaps, including a season-high 72 at Boise State, and had a season-high four knockdowns against San Diego State.
 
As a true freshman in 2020, the 6-1, 300-pound Alo started four of the five games he played in, recording 185 snaps and 9.5 knockdowns. The native of Salt Lake City played a season-high 63 snaps at Nevada and had a season-best 3.5 knockdowns against New Mexico.
 
Former University of Oregon and current Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Award in 2014; former University of Notre Dame and current Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley received the award in 2015; former University of Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau received the award in 2016; former Washington State and current Minnesota Vikings defensive end Hercules Mata'afa received the award in 2017; former University of Alabama and current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa received the award in 2018 & 2019; former University of Oregon offensive tackle and current Detroit Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell received the award in 2019; former University of Southern California and current San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga, and former BYU and current New York Jets quarterback Zach Kapono Wilson received the award in 2020.
 
The winner of the 2021 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on Dec.14. Five finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 30. The presentation of the award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner (Jan. 21, 2022) at the Sheraton Waikiki, and they will also be recognized at halftime of the Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 22, 2022).
 
The watch list candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list may be made as the 2021 season progresses. The finalists and winner will be chosen by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, which includes former NFL Player and Inaugural Inductee Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (chairman), coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL player and inaugural inductee Olin Kreutz, inaugural inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former NFL player and Class of 2015 inductee Ray Schoenke, ESPN Sportscaster Neil Everett, and NFL Network commentator Steve Wyche.
 
Utah State opens the 2021 season on Saturday, Sept. 4, at Washington State, and begins its home slate the following weekend against North Dakota on Friday, Sept. 10. Mountain West play begins for USU the following weekend at Air Force on Saturday, Sept. 18.

For Aggie football ticket information, fans can contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office over the phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or 435-797-0305 during regular hours of operation. Fans can also buy their tickets in person at the USU Ticket Office inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or online by clicking on the "Buy Tickets" tab at www.UtahStateAggies.com.
 
For more information on the Utah State football program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUFootball, on Facebook at USUFootball and on Instagram at USUFootball.
 
-USU-