HONOLULU -- San Diego State's Tupu Alualu (Honolulu) and Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli (San Diego/Mater Dei High) have each been named to the 2023 watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award, the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced Thursday. There are 85 players on the initial list, which is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity.
A defensive lineman, Alualu will be entering his first season with the Aztecs after previous playing at New Mexico Military Institute (2019) and Mt. Sac (2021). In 2021 with the Mounties, Alualo had total tackles (29 solo) and 5.5 sacks. Alualu prepped at Moanalua High School in Honolulu, where he starred for the Menehunes and helped lead the team to a Hawaii state playoff appearance. He also played two seasons at St. Louis High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, helping the Crusaders to a 11-1 record in his junior year.
Ulugalu-Maseuli, meanwhile, started six times last year, including five times at right guard and once at left guard. Ulugalu-Maseuli played in 432 offensive snaps overall on the offensive line and appeared in seven games. He played his high school ball at Mater Dei High in 2020, JSerra Catholic High in 2019 and Cathedral Catholic High in 2018.
Oregon's Marcus Mariota was selected as the inaugural recipient of the award in 2014, while other winners include Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley (2015), Colorado's Sefo Liufau (2016), Washington State's Hercules Mata`afa (2017), Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa (2018 and 2019), Oregon's Penei Sewell (shared award with Tagovailoa in 2019), USC's Talanoa Hufanga and Brigham Young's Zach Wilson in 2020, Ohio State's Haskell Garrett in 2021 and USC's Tuli Tuipulotu last year.
The five finalists for the award will be unveiled on Nov. 30 with the winner announced on Dec. 14. The award presentation will be held Jan. 20, 2024, during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner at the Sheraton Waikiki and be recognized at halftime of the Polynesian Bowl on Jan. 19.
The watch list candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list may be made as the 2023 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 players Olin Kreutz, Kevin Mawae and Ray Schoenke, ESPN sportscaster Neil Everett and NFL Network chief national reporter Steve Wyche.
SDSU finished the 2022 season with a 7-6 record and its streak of 13 consecutive years without a losing season is tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the country.
Five of San Diego State's first six games will be against teams that made a bowl game in 2022, including four 10-win programs in Ohio (10-4), Oregon State (10-3), Boise State (10-4) and Air Force (10-3), along with UCLA (9-4).
The Aztecs kick off their season on Aug. 26 against Ohio at Snapdragon Stadium.
Season tickets, single-game tickets and mini-plans are now on sale. Additionally, discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are also available by contacting the ticket office at (619) 283-7378.
Two Aztecs Named to Polynesian Watch List
