USC Duo Makai Lemon and Jayden Maiava Named Finalists for 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year

Two USC Trojans have been selected as finalists for the prestigious 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award: standout wide receiver Makai Lemon and quarterback Jayden Maiava.

The award, presented annually by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, honors the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who best exemplifies great ability and integrity.

USC has a strong recent history with the honor. In 2022, former Trojans defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu took home the award.

Makai Lemon: The Nation’s Top Receiver

Makai Lemon has put together one of the most dominant receiving seasons in college football history.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Lemon owns the highest overall grade (90.4) and receiving grade (91.3) among all wide receivers nationwide. The Biletnikoff Award finalist and All-America candidate led all Power Four players during the regular season in receiving yards (1,156) and yards per game (96.3).

Inside the Big Ten, Lemon paced the conference in:

• Receptions per game (6.6)
• Yards after catch (502)
• Receiving touchdowns (11, tied)

He also ranked third in the Power Four with 19 receptions of 20+ yards and tied for the national lead with 50 catches resulting in first downs – marks that topped every other Biletnikoff finalist.

Lemon’s versatility was on full display in 2025. He scored 11 receiving touchdowns, added two rushing scores, and even threw a touchdown pass – becoming the first Big Ten player to catch two touchdowns and throw one in the same game since Minnesota’s Eric Decker in 2009 (against California).

The dynamic playmaker posted five 100-yard games this season (seven in his career) and reached double-digit receptions three times. He now has 137 career catches for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns, placing him 22nd on USC’s all-time receptions list.

Jayden Maiava: Big Ten’s Most Productive Quarterback

Quarterback Jayden Maiava enjoyed a breakout campaign, leading the nation with a 91.2 Total QBR.

The dual-threat signal-caller completed 247-of-373 passes (66.2%) for 3,431 yards and 23 touchdowns while leading the Big Ten in:

• Passing yards (3,431)
• Passing yards per game (285.9)
• Yards per completion (13.89)
• Total offense (298.4 yards per game)

PFF credited Maiava with the second-most “big-time throws” in the country (26), highlighting his elite arm talent, precision, and ability to beat tight coverage with high-difficulty passes.

Prestigious Selection Process

Lemon and Maiava were chosen from a watch list of nearly 100 players by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee. The panel includes chairman Jack “The Throwin’ Samoan” Thompson, coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL players Olin Kreutz, Kevin Mawae, Ray Schoenke, and Manti Te’o, as well as broadcasters Neil Everett and Steve Wyche.

The 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year will be announced on December 16, 2025. The winner will be formally honored at the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner on January 17, 2026, and recognized during the Polynesian Bowl the previous evening.

With two finalists in the same year, USC has a strong chance to bring the award back to Los Angeles for the second time in four seasons.