HONOLULU — UTSA senior offensive lineman Venly Tatafu has been named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List, the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced Thursday.
Tatafu is one of 81 players who made the list for the award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who exemplifies exceptional ability and integrity both on and off the field.
A veteran of the offensive line since the 2022 season, Tatafu has played in 28 games and earned 22 starts as a Roadrunner. Last year, the Portland, Oregon, native logged 171 total snaps at left guard and did not allow a sack or a hit on the quarterback in 107 pass-blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
In 2023, Tatafu started all 13 games, helping the offense pile up 5,421 yards (421.6 yards per game). He saw action for 978 total snaps, including 680 at left tackle, and was rated with a 97.6 pass blocking efficiency by PFF.
Tatafu’s first season with the Roadrunners saw him appear in a dozen games and make seven starts at left tackle, helping UTSA rank 12th nationally in total offense (476.0 ypg) and 13th in passing yards per game (300.7). He did not allow a hit on the quarterback and surrendered only two sacks in 365 pass-blocking snaps per PFF.
“The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award has become one of the most prestigious honors in college football,” said Jesse Sapolu, Chairman, Co-Founder, and Inductee of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. “It is a source of great pride for our community, recognizing the outstanding achievements of Polynesian student-athletes and giving us a powerful platform to share our culture with the world.”
The 2025 Watch List was compiled based on past performance and potential for the upcoming season. Additional players will be added to the Watch List as the year unfolds. The finalists and winner will be selected by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, comprised of Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee), 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, NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche, and former NFL Player and Class of 2023 Inductee Manti Te`o.
Finalists for the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on Dec. 9, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 16. The presentation of the Award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (Jan. 17, 2026), and they will also be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, 2026).
UTSA will kick off its 15th season of football and sixth year under head coach Jeff Traylor against Texas A&M at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, in what will be a national televised matchup on ESPN live from Kyle Field in College Station.
The Roadrunners then will return home to host back-to-back games at the Alamodome where they boast a 29-3 record in the Jeff Traylor era, tied for the third-most home victories among FBS teams since 2020. UTSA will face Texas State in the Battle for I-35 at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, before they match up with crosstown foe UIW at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13.
UTSA has four league games on the home slate with Rice (Oct. 11), Tulane (Oct. 30), East Carolina (Nov. 22) and Army (Nov. 28 or 29) scheduled to visit the Alamodome.
Fans can purchase season or single-game tickets online or by calling the UTSA Ticket Office at 210-458-UTSA (8872) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding holidays. Current UTSA football season-ticket holders may renew their tickets by logging into their UTSA Account Manager.
Current UTSA students receive free admission to all home games by downloading tickets via their Account Manager.
Merchandise commemorating UTSA Football’s 15th season and featuring the official logo of the milestone campaign is available for purchase.
Roadrunners on 2025 Preseason Watch Lists
Camron Cooper — Allstate AFCA Good Works Team; Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
Robert Henry Jr. — Shrine Bowl 1000; Doak Walker Award
Owen McCown — Davey O’Brien Award; Maxwell Award
Willie McCoy III — Paul Hornung Award
Venly Tatafu — Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award
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