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Boise State Athletics
Four Named To Polynesian Player Of The Year Watch List
8/9/2018 10:54:00 AM | Football
BOISE, Idaho -Â Boise State landed four players to the 2018 preseason watch list of the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Thursday. The list, announced by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, consists of 50 players from 34 FBS programs.
Junior nose tackle Sonatane Lui, junior linebacker Tyson Maeva, redshirt senior defensive tackle David Moa, and junior safety Kekoa Nawahine represented the Broncos on the list, with Moa being named a candidate for the third-straight season.
Lui was a key component in Boise State's run defense in 2017, which ranked 17th in the country allowing just 120.2 yards per game. Clogging up the middle at nose tackle, Lui made 2.5 tackles for loss among his 18 total tackles on the season, and recovered a pair of fumbles.
Maeva ranked third on the team last season with 84 tackles (43 solo), in addition to a sack, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, and three pass breakups. He finished the season being named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention.
Moa, named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy Preseason Watch Lists in July, as well as to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team, was a force in the Bronco run defense last season despite commanding double-teams from numerous opponents. While his presence helped open up rush opportunities Bronco All-Mountain West selections Weaver, Jabril Frazier and Durrant Miles, Moa managed to get his, as well, recording 2.0 sacks and 3.5 tackles-for-loss among his 21 tackles. He was named to the All-Mountain West Second Team for his efforts.
Nawahine, named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List in July, built off of the promise of the strong finish to his freshman season in 2016, being named to the All-Mountain West Second Team last year. Nawahine hit the century mark with 108 tackles, teaming with Leighton Vander Esch to become the first pair of Broncos to each hit the 100-tackle mark in a season since 2005. Nawahine, a Meridian native, was also a force in the defense's ball-hawking ways, sharing with Vander Esch the Bronco lead in interceptions (three) while also picking up a fumble.
Boise State, ranked 22nd in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll, opens the 2018 campaign Saturday, Sept. 1 at Troy (4 p.m. MT, ESPNews).
Junior nose tackle Sonatane Lui, junior linebacker Tyson Maeva, redshirt senior defensive tackle David Moa, and junior safety Kekoa Nawahine represented the Broncos on the list, with Moa being named a candidate for the third-straight season.
Lui was a key component in Boise State's run defense in 2017, which ranked 17th in the country allowing just 120.2 yards per game. Clogging up the middle at nose tackle, Lui made 2.5 tackles for loss among his 18 total tackles on the season, and recovered a pair of fumbles.
Maeva ranked third on the team last season with 84 tackles (43 solo), in addition to a sack, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, and three pass breakups. He finished the season being named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention.
Moa, named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy Preseason Watch Lists in July, as well as to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team, was a force in the Bronco run defense last season despite commanding double-teams from numerous opponents. While his presence helped open up rush opportunities Bronco All-Mount
Nawahine, named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List in July, built off of the promise of the strong finish to his freshman season in 2016, being named to the All-Mountain West Second Team last year. Nawahine hit the century mark with 108 tackles, teaming with Leighton Vander Esch to become the first pair of Broncos to each hit the 100-tackle mark in a season since 2005. Nawahine, a Meridian native, was also a force in the defense's ball-hawking ways, sharing with Vander Esch the Bronco lead in interceptions (three) while also picking up a fumble.
Boise State, ranked 22nd in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll, opens the 2018 campaign Saturday, Sept. 1 at Troy (4 p.m. MT, ESPNews).
Players Mentioned
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