Tuli Tuipulotu Named Polynesian College Football Player of the Year
USC defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu is the 2022 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. The award is given annually by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.
“We congratulate Tuli on an incredible season,” said Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Chairman Jesse Sapolu in a statement. “His accomplishments are a source of great pride for the Polynesian community.”
Tuipulotu, of Tongan ancestry, is the second USC player to win the award. He joins safety Talanoa Hufanga, who was a co-winner along with BYU quarterback Zach Wilson following the 2020 season.
Tuipulotu was a standout for the Trojans this season. He’s recorded 12.5 sacks and nearly half of his 44 total tackles were for losses. He leads the Pac-12 and finished No. 6 nationally in tackles for loss per game. Tuipulotu also recorded two forced fumbles and three pass deflections.
He had four games with multiple sacks and finished the season recording at least one tackle for loss in five-straight games.
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Tuipulotu won the Pat Tillman Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award and was named a first-team All-Pac-12 selection. He was a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Nagurski Trophy. And he’s been named a first-team All-American by the AP, FWAA, Sporting News and Walter Camp.
The formal presentation of the Award will be held at the 2023 Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (January 21, 2023), along with being recognized during the 2023 Polynesian Bowl (January 20, 2023).
Previous Winners
2014 – QB Marcus Mariota (Oregon)
2015 – OL Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame)
2016 – QB Sefo Liufau (Colorado)
2017 – DE Hercules Mata’afa (Washington State)
2018 – QB Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama)
2019 – QB Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) and OT Penei Sewell (Oregon)
2020 – S Talanoa Hufanga (USC) and QB Zach Kapono Wilson (BYU)
2021 – DL Haskell Garrett (Ohio State)
