Official Announcement

STORRS, Conn. – UConn senior linebacker Tui Faumuina-Brown (Pittsburgh, Pa.) has been named to the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watchlist announced by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame on the Thursday.

The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity. The Watch List is composed of 96 players from 37 different FBS schools.

Faumuina-Brown heads into his senior season for the Huskies after moving into a starting role on the UConn defense last fall.  Playing in all in all 12 games, he finished third on the defense in tackles making 61 stops, 32 solo, with four tackles for a loss.  He also recorded his first career sack and had an interception on the season.  He posted a career-high 12 tackles at Boston College and made eight tackles and picked off a pass at home against USF.

Over his three seasons, Faumuina-Brown has played in 34 total games.  He has made 83 tackles and has two interceptions.

The Watch List candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list will be made as the 2024 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, sportscaster Neil Everett, and NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche.  

Five finalists for the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on December 3 and the winner will be announced on December 17. The presentation of the Award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner (January 18, 2025) at the Sheraton Waikiki, and they will also be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (January 17, 2025).

Former University of Oregon, Washington Commanders QB Marcus Mariota was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Award in 2014; former University of Notre Dame, Baltimore Ravens OL Ronnie Stanley in 2015; former University of Colorado QB Sefo Liufau in 2016; former Washington State University, former Minnesota Vikings DE Hercules Mata`afa in 2017; former University of Alabama, Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in 2018 & 2019; former University of Oregon, Detroit Lions OL Penei Sewell in 2019; former University of Southern California, San Francisco 49ers Safety Talanoa Hufanga, and former Brigham Young University, Denver Broncos QB Zach Kapono Wilson in 2020; former DL at The Ohio State University Haskell Garrett  in 2021; former University of Southern California, Los Angeles Chargers DL Tuli Tuipulotu in 2022; and former UCLA, Indianapolis Colts DL Laiatu Latu and former University of Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa in 2023.