HONOLULU — UTSA offensive lineman Ahofitu Maka has been named to the watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award, the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced Thursday.
Maka is one of 63 FBS players on the watch list for the award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity.
A second-team All-Conference USA selection a year ago, Maka has started 23 contests — all but one at center — over the last two seasons for the Roadrunners. He made 10 starts at center and one at right guard in 2020, helping the offense break UTSA single-season records for rushing yards (2,585), rushing yards per game (215.4), yards per rush (5.21) and rushing touchdowns (24). The Honolulu, Hawai'i, native helped pave the way for All-America running back Sincere McCormick, who rushed for a school-record 1,467 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Maka started at center in the record-setting 2020 regular season finale that saw UTSA pile up a program-record 624 yards of offense, including a school-record 443 on the ground, in a 49-17 win over of North Texas. He also spearheaded a line that helped the offense pile up 330 rushing yards in the 51-48 double-overtime win at Texas State.
A standout in the classroom, Maka was a 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team selection. He is a two-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member and a C-USA Academic Medal recipient.
The winner of the 2021 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on Dec. 14. Five finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 30. The presentation of the award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner on Jan. 21, 2022, at the Sheraton Waikiki, and they will also be recognized the following day at halftime of the Polynesian Bowl.
The watch list candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list may be made as the 2021 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, ESPN Sportscaster Neil Everett, and NFL Network commentator Steve Wyche.
Season and single-game tickets for UTSA's 2021 home schedule are on sale now. Please call or text 210-458-UTSA (8872) or click here. Payment plans for all season ticket packages are available.
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