Tennessee football's Nico Iamaleava headlines 2024 Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List

Tennessee football quarterback Nico Iamaleava is among the Vols players who made the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List. Nico is starting his first season as the leader of Tennessee's offense after sitting behind Joe Milton last season. 

The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award is presented to "the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who epitomizes great ability and integrity." The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame leads the list and award. 

Nico is joined by two of his Tennessee teammates on the watch list, linebacker Keenan Pili and defensive lineman Jaxson Moi, ahead of the start of the 2024 college football season. 

Pili and Moi joined Tennessee through the transfer portal. Both have plenty of experience at the FBS level. Tennessee fans had high hopes for Pili heading into the 2023 season, but he was sidelined early with a season-ending injury. 

Moi is preparing for his first season on Rocky Top. He has impressed early throughout Fall camp and could earn a valuable spot in the Vols' defensive line rotation if he continues to improve with only a couple of weeks before the 2024 season officially kicks off in Knoxville. 

While Pili and Moi come to Tennessee with valuable experience, Nico is preparing to begin his first college football season as a full-time starter. The former five-star prospect from Long Beach, California, has high expectations throughout Vol Nation and the country. 

Nico started the Citrus Bowl last season, leading the Vols to a 35-0 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. He used his arm and legs to find the endzone and help Tennessee win another bowl game in the Josh Heupel era. 

Tennessee's season will officially begin on August 31, with Chattanooga coming to town to take on the Vols in Week One. The Vols will have some early-season tests soon after, with NC State and Oklahoma on the schedule for weeks two and four.