Jayden Maiava, Makai Lemon, Alani Noa, and Justin Tauanuu Named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List

by Isabella Lyons

University of Southern California quarterback Jayden Maiava, wide receiver Makai Lemon, and offensive linemen Alani Noa and Justin Tauanuu were named to the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch list today. The award is presented each year to honor college football players of Polynesian descent who demonstrate excellence and integrity on and off the field.

Jayden Maiava is back to lead the Trojan offense after starting in USC’s last four games including their crosstown rivalry game against UCLA and in the Las Vegas Bowl against Texas A&M. Maiava went 101 of 169 for a total of 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns. Maiava made history last season by being named the first starting quarterback at USC of Polynesian descent.

Makai Lemon is one of the nation’s most well rounded players and was USC’s most versatile player of the 2024 season. The Biletnikoff candidate racked up 52 receptions for a team leading 764 yards and three touchdowns finishing the season ranked sixth in the nation. Lemon demonstrated his versatility in the crosstown rivalry win against UCLA with a 39 -yard pass to Kyron Hudson, setting up Ja’Kobi Lane for a touchdown on the following play.

Alani Noa will return as a junior for the 2025 season for USC. Noa saw action in all 13 games at left guard, starting in 12 of those games. Noa was the first true freshman to start at left guard for USC since 2014.

Justin Tauanuu returns as a sophomore for the 2025 season. The Huntington Beach native played in 3 games, one of those being his breakout game at the Las Vegas Bowl after stepping in for an injured teammate at left tackle, helping USC defeat Texas A&M 35-31. 

Both Noa and Taunauu helped protect USC’s quarterbacks, leading to a No. 10 in the nation in passing offense and No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 23 in the nation in total offense.

Lemon and Tauanuu are both former Sunset League players. Lemon graduated from Los Alamitos high school in 2023 and Tauanuu graduated from Huntington Beach high school in 2024. The last time these now teammates met was in 2022 where Los Alamitos took the victory 48-7 against the Oilers. 

Lemon, Maiava, and Tauanuu were all on the Polynesian Bowl roster, Maiva in 2022, Lemon in 2023, and Taunuu in 2024. 

The finalists for the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced 9 Dec. and the winner will be announced on 16 Dec. The selection will be made by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, which includes former Polynesian players like Manti Te’o and Chairman Jack “The Throwin’ Samoan” Thompson.