Penn State offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane has been selected to the Polynesian Player of the Year watch list for the second consecutive season. The redshirt junior guard started all 16 games for the Nittany Lions at left guard in 2024.
The Polynesian Player of the Year Award is given annually to the best Polynesian player in the county that “epitomizes great ability and integrity.”
Polynesian POTY Award Watch List 👀
Presented annually to the Most Outstanding Polynesian Player in College Football#WeAre x @PolynesianFBHOF pic.twitter.com/LCU86yuEFX
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) August 17, 2025
This is Ioane’s third preseason honor as he’s already been selected to the Lombardy Award and Outland Trophy watch lists.
Ioane will be a pivotal piece of the Nittany Lions’ offensive line with the duty of protecting Penn State’s quarterback Drew Allar this season, who has aspirations for the Heisman Trophy in 2025.
The redshirt junior guard is from Graham, Washington, where he played football at Graham-Kapowsin High School. Ioane is coming off of an All-Big Ten second team selection in 2024, and has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors each of the last two years at Penn State.
Penn State is ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 preseason rankings, and is one of the national championship favorites. The Nittany Lions made the College Football Playoffs in 2024, and advanced to the semifinals before falling to Notre Dame.
If Penn State wants to revenge last season, it will need a big season from Heisman hopeful Allar, and that starts with strong protection up from his offensive line, which will be led by 2025 team captain center Nick Dawkins and Ioane at the center of the Nittany Lions’ unit.
Source link : https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/penn-states-vega-ioane-selected-special-watch-list-honoring-his-origins/90eb3b6253d97ea5e4352919
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Publish date : 2025-08-17 21:07:00
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