For the second straight season, Tennessee’s Jaxson Moi was named to the Polynesian College Player of the Year Award Watch List, which was announced by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Moi is one of 81 players on the watch list for this year’s award, which has been presented annually since 2014 and honors the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who exemplifies exceptional ability and integrity both on and off the field.
After starting his collegiate career at Stanford, Moi enters his second season with the Vols. The senior defensive lineman played in all 13 games last year, finishing with 16 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. During his time in Knoxville, Moi has developed into a leader on the defense and was selected to the team’s leadership council.
The Oceanside, California, native, has played in 37 career games and recorded 53 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks during his previous three seasons.
The finalists and winner for the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be selected by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, comprised of Jack “The Throwin’ Samoan” Thompson (Chairman, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee), Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, Inaugural Inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former NFL player and Class of 2015 Inductee Ray Schoenke, sportscaster Neil Everett, NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche, and former NFL Player and Class of 2023 Inductee Manti Te`o.
Finalists for the award will be unveiled on Dec. 9, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 16. The presentation of the Award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (Jan. 17, 2026), and they will also be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, 2026).
More information about the award as well as the full 2025 watch list can be found HERE.
A complete list of Tennessee’s 2025 preseason honors can be seen below.
2025 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Dodd Trophy Watch List
DeSean Bishop, RB, R-So.
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Arion Carter, LB, Jr.
Bednarik Award Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List
Second Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Third Team All-SEC (Media)
Boo Carter, DB, So.
Third Team All-SEC (Media)
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Bryson Eason, DL, R-Sr.
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Third Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Rickey Gibson III, DB, Jr.
Third Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Max Gilbert, PK, R-So.
Lou Groza Award Watch List
Lance Heard, OL, Jr.
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Joshua Josephs, DL, Sr.
Second Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Miles Kitselman, TE, R-Sr.
Mackey Award Watch List
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Jermod McCoy, DB, Jr.
Bednarik Award Watch List
Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
First Team All-American (Athlon, ESPN, PFF, Sporting News, Walter Camp)
First Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media)
Jaxson Moi, DL, Sr.
Polynesian College Player of the Year Award Watch List
Jackson Ross, P, R-Jr.
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Star Thomas, RB, Sr.
Doak Walker Award Watch List
