LOS ANGELES-USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, quarterback Jayden Maiava and offensive linemen Alani Noa and Justin Tauanuu were named to 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List, today (Aug. 14). Presented annually, the award honors the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who exemplifies exceptional ability and integrity both on and off the field.
Lemon, one of the nation’s most electric all-around players, looks be a leader among the Trojan wide receiver unit as a junior in 2025.
Lemon was USC’s most versatile player of the 2024 season. The Biletnikoff candidate recorded a team-leading 52 receptions for a team-leading 764 yards (14.7 avg.) and 3 TDs. Lemon also fielded kickoff returns, recording 19 returns for 514 yards (27.1 avg.) with a long of 80 yards. He finished the season ranked No. 6 in the nation in kickoff returns and will be a serious contender for a Paul Hornung Award in 2025. Lemon also ranked No. 16 in the nation (No. 2 in the Big Ten) in combined kick returns (514) and was a crucial member of the punt coverage team downing punts for Ray Guy winner, Eddie Czaplicki. Additionally, Lemon continued to prove his versatility by going 1-for-1 in passing attempts, tossing a 39-yard completion to wide receiver Kyron Hudson versus UCLA to set up wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane to score on the subsequent play. He was selected as an All-Big Ten Offensive Honorable Mention as well as an All-Big Ten Third Team Return Specialist.
Redshirt junior Jayden Maiava returns to lead the Trojan offense after starting USC’s last four games with a 3-1 record (including defeating crosstown rival UCLA and SEC opponent Texas A&M). Last season, Maiava went 101-of-169 (.598) for 1,201 yards and 11 TDs with 6 INTs. He also rushed for 45 yards on 20 carries with 4 TDs.
Noa, an experienced offensive lineman, returns as a junior in 2025. Noa saw action in all 13 games and started 12 (all at left guard) as a sophomore in 2024. He was crucial to the success of the USC offense last season. USC finished the regular season ranked No. 10 in the nation in passing offense (291.9) and No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 23 in the nation in total offense (437.2).
Tauanuu saw action in 3 games on the offensive line as a freshman in 2024. He had his breakout game in the Las Vegas Bowl against Texas A&M when he stepped in for an injured Trojan at left tackle. He performed with poise, allowing USC to engineer a thrilling 35-31 comeback victory over the Aggies.
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 the winner will also be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, 2026).