Four members of the UCLA football team have been named to the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List, according to an announcement from the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. The Bruins recognized are quarterback Nico Iamaleava, wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, and defensive linemen Siale Taupaki and Keanu Williams.
The award has been presented annually since 2014 to honor the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who demonstrates both ability and integrity on and off the field. This year’s watch list includes 81 players from 40 NCAA Division I programs. Former UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu received the award in 2023 during his senior season, also winning the Lombardi Award and Ted Hendricks Award that year for leading the nation in tackles for loss per game and ranking fourth in sacks per game.
Iamaleava was a finalist for this award last year after his first season as a starting quarterback at Tennessee. He returns to Southern California following a season where he led Tennessee to an 11-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance. “Iamaleava finished last season completing 213-of-334 passes (63.8%) for 2,616 yards (201.2 yards per game) and nine touchdowns with five interceptions. He totaled 299-plus yards of total offense in three contests against UT-Chattanooga (320), Kentucky (306) and Vanderbilt (299). A master of the deep ball, Iamaleava ranked second in the Southeastern Conference with six 50-plus-yard completions last season,” according to information provided by UCLA Athletics.
Mokiao-Atimalala played nine games in his redshirt junior campaign last year, including seven starts. He ended his season with six catches for 49 yards against USC and had a long completion versus Fresno State late in the year. Over the course of the season, he made 28 receptions for 294 yards and one touchdown.
Taupaki appears on this watch list for a second time after previously being included as a redshirt freshman in 2023. Last season marked his most consistent playing time yet; he played all twelve games with seven starts on defense after moving from offensive line duties previously. Taupaki recorded 23 tackles and one sack.
Williams is returning to play after missing much of last season due to injury early in the schedule. Across his career at Oregon and UCLA, Williams has accumulated twenty tackles and one-and-a-half sacks over twenty-six games.
The watch list was compiled based on previous performance as well as potential impact during the upcoming season. Finalists will be announced December 9, with a winner named December 16, followed by an awards presentation January 17 at the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner; honorees will also be recognized at the Polynesian Bowl on January 16.
Selection is handled by a committee that includes Jack Thompson (Chairman), coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, Olin Kreutz, Kevin Mawae, Ray Schoenke, Neil Everett, Steve Wyche, and Manti Te`o.
UCLA opens its football season at home against Utah on August 30 at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Single-game and season tickets are available now through UCLA Athletics’ ticket office or by contacting tickets@athletics.ucla.edu or calling (310) 206-5991.
