3 Wildcats named to Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list

The annual award is given out by the Polynesian College Football Hall of Fame. USC wide receiver Makai Lemon and Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano shared the award last season. Fifita was a finalist for the award in 2025.

Former Arizona star receiver Tetairoa McMillan was the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year during his final season with the Wildcats in 2024.

The fifth-year Fifita, a preseason All-Big 12 quarterback, is entering his final season quarterbacking the Wildcats and is currently third in UA history in all-time passing yards (9,183).

Fifita needs just over 800 passing yards to pass Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles for the program's career passing yards record. Fifita passed Foles for career touchdowns (73) last season and also set the single-season passing touchdowns (29) record. 

In his first season under offensive coordinator Seth Doege in 2025, Fifita finished third in the Big 12 with 3,228 yards, 29 touchdowns and just six interceptions — two interceptions in the final seven games of the 2025 season. 

Fifita, a first-team All-Big 12 selection, became the third all-time Arizona quarterback to receive first-team all-conference honors — the first in 50 years. Fifita joined Bruce Hill, who was an All-WAC first-team selection in 1975, and Ted Bland, a three-time All-Border Conference selection from 1933-35.

Fifita led the Wildcats to their second bowl appearance in three seasons and became the first UA quarterback since Foles to win the Territorial Cup twice as a starter. Fifita owns the program’s single-game passing yards record with 527 yards against Arizona State in 2023.

Tapa’atoutai is transitioning from playing tackle the first three seasons at Arizona, to now the starting left guard.

In 231 snaps last season, including a season-high 86 snaps in the Holiday Bowl, Tapa'atoutai surrendered 12 quarterback pressures and a team-high three sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. Part of Tapa’atoutai’s struggles at tackle stemmed from overcoming a season-ending knee injury from the 2024 season.

"I think a lot of it had to do with his confidence coming back from a knee injury," said Arizona offensive coordinator Seth Doege. "There were moments where he looked like his old self, and then there were moments where he was like, 'Oh, no, am I ready?' That shook his confidence a little bit. Looking at his skill set and how strong he is, how explosive he is, it just seems like he's a better fit at guard.”

The Wildcats "have full confidence in Rhino" as a mainstay on Arizona's offensive line and "him moving inside is beneficial not only for him, but for us as a team," said Arizona offensive line coach Josh Oglesby.

"The opportunity to be in close space, allowing him to use his violence and physicality a little bit more on the inside with the amount of counter that we run — getting him on the pulls and different things like that," Oglesby said. "The inside suits him a little bit better, especially with the development we've had at the tackle position. ... Prototypical guard is awesome for him, because of the way he plays, the mauler mentality." 

The 6-3, 288-pound Pese has the frame to play defensive tackle or edge rusher. After becoming a key cog in Arizona’s defensive line rotation, especially in the second half of the season, Pese received All-Big 12 Freshman Team honorable mention and "played a lot in his first year last year, but he's a kid that's motivated to improve," said defensive line coach Joe Salave’a.

The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year preseason watch list is the latest honor for Fifita entering his final season at Arizona. Fifita is a preseason candidate for the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Fifita is also an AllState Good Works Team nominee and was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list.

Fifita was recently named a 40 under 40 winner by the Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, an honor that recognizes rising leaders in the Tucson community.

Arizona kicks off the season against Northern Arizona on Sept. 5 at Casino Del Sol Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.