BYU quarterback Zach Wilson will enter April’s NFL draft as a national award winner after all.
Wilson and USC safety Talanoa Hufanga have been selected as co-recipients of the 2020 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award.
Wilson, whose middle name is Kapono, is of Hawaiian ancestry, while Hufanga is of Samoan ancestry.
The award is given annually to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that “epitomizes great ability and integrity.” Wilson is the first BYU player to win the award.
“On behalf of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors, we congratulate Talanoa and Zach on their accomplishments this season,” Polynesian Football Hall of Fame chairman Jesse Sapolu said in a news release. “They are tremendous role models and a source of great pride for Polynesians everywhere.”
Wilson’s father, Mike, was raised in Hawaii and prepped at Honolulu’s McKinley High before playing college football at the University of Utah.
Zach Wilson led BYU to an 11-1 record in 2020, completing a school-record 73.4% of his passes for 3,692 yards and 33 touchdowns with just three interceptions. One of those picks was on a Hail Mary before halftime against Coastal Carolina and another came when a receiver fell down against Navy.
Wilson broke Steve Young’s completion percentage record. He also rushed for 255 yards and 10 touchdowns and finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
This is the second time the award has been shared; in 2019, former Desert Hills High and Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell and Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa were co-recipients.
Past winners also include quarterback Marcus Mariota (2014), offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley (2015), quarterback Sefo Liufau (2016) and defensive end Hercules Mata’afa (2017). Tagovailoa also won the award in 2018.
USC’s Hufanga led his 5-1 team in tackles (62), interceptions (4) and forced fumbles (2) and has also declared for the NFL draft.
This year’s celebration dinner and Polynesian Bowl were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Wilson and Hufanga will be recognized during the 2022 Polynesian Bowl and the 2022 Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner on Jan. 21, 2022.
Former University of Utah and Weber State coach Ron McBride is a member of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame selection committee.