Aug. 10, 2017
HONOLULU -
Preseason Accolades | Lakalaka at Tuesday's Practice | Fall Camp Links | Clips
San Diego State junior linebacker Ronley Lakalaka has been named to the 2017 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List, the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced today.
The award's watch list, presented to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry, features 48 players from 30 Football Bowl Subdivision schools. The Mountain West boasts the most student-athletes on the list with 15, followed by the Pac-12 (14). In its fourth incarnation, previous recipients of the award include current NFL players Marcus Mariota, Ronnie Stanley and Sefo Liufau. The award winner will be announced on Dec. 14, with the five finalists unveiled on Nov. 30.
Lakalaka totaled 73 tackles last year (37 solo) to go along with three tackles for loss, an 8-yard sack, two interceptions for 20 yards and a touchdown, a pass breakup and five quarterback hurries. Ranking second on the team in tackles a year ago, Lakalaka backed a defense that finished with national rankings of first in interceptions (26), fifth in turnovers gained (29), sixth in rush defense (105.7), 11th in total defense (315.4), 17th in scoring defense (20.2), 18th in pass efficiency defense (115.5), 20th in first downs allowed (236) and 26th in sacks (2.7).
SDSU is coming off an 11-3 season, knocking off Wyoming, 27-24, in the MW Championship game and Houston, 34-10, in the Las Vegas Bowl, to finish with a No. 25 ranking in both the AP Top 25 poll and the Amway Coaches Poll. It was just the second time that San Diego State has been ranked in the final AP poll in program history (also 1977). The 11 wins tied a school single-season record as the Aztecs became the first team in program history with back-to-back 11-win campaigns.
2017 Aztec football season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Season tickets start at $125, while mini plans start at $90. Fans can purchase tickets at GoAztecs.com, over the phone by calling (619) 283-7378, or by visiting Qualcomm Stadium's Window E Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. PT and 5 p.m. PT.
The Aztecs kick off the 2017 season at Qualcomm Stadium Sept. 2 against UC Davis at 5:30 p.m. PT.