RENO, Nev. - Nevada defensive standouts Henry Ikahihifo and Tongiaki Mateialona were named to the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame's Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List Thursday morning.

The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity. The Watch List is composed of 96 players from 37 different FBS schools.

Ikahihifo will make his return to the Mackay Stadium field this fall, after sitting out the 2023 season due to being denied a waiver of immediate eligibility. He began his collegiate career playing tight end at Nevada from 2019-20, making seven receptions for 37 yards over 20 appearances. After the 2020 season, he transferred to College of the Canyons, switching to defensive end in the process.

After a strong debut season on the defensive side, where he made 32 tackles, including 5.5 sacks, Ikahihifo signed with California. With the Golden Bears in 2022, he played in 10 games, recording one sack, before rejoining the Wolf Pack ahead of the 2023 campaign.

Despite being unable to play in 2023, Ikahihifo has taken on a leadership role in the Wolf Pack locker room, even more so under new Nevada head coach Jeff Choate, who took the reins in December.

Mateialona, entering his fifth season with the Wolf Pack in 2024,finished fourth on the team with a career-high 54 tackles, including 2.0 tackles-for-loss, a sack, and two forced fumbles a season ago. Last fall, he had seven games with at least five tackles, including a season-high eight in Nevada's 6-0 shutout of San Diego State.

Following the season, Mateialona was recognized for his efforts, being named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention.

Ikahihifo, Mateialona, and their fellow Polynesian teammates have been instrumental in bringing the locker room together, sharing the values of their respective cultures and heritage to create a family among a roster featuring student-athletes from all corners of the United States and the Pacific.

The Watch List candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list will be made as the 2024 season progresses. The finalists and winner will be chosen by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee which includes former NFL Player and Inaugural Inductee Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman), 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, and NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche.

Five finalists for the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on December 3 and the winner will be announced on December 17.

Nevada will Launch the Jeff Choate Era Saturday, Aug. 24, when it hosts new ACC member SMU at 5 p.m. at Mackay Stadium. Choate spent the past three seasons (2021-23) as co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Texas, helping lead the Longhorns to a Big XII title and College Football Playoff appearance in 2023. Prior to his time in Austin, Choate served as head coach at Montana State from 2016-20, leading the Bobcats to a pair of FCS playoff berths, including a run to the semifinals in 2019.

Nevada Football's "Drive For 25," a message to Wolf Pack fans to get Mackay Stadium to at least 25,000 attendees for the Aug. 24 opener against SMU, continues its push as season ticket prices for 2024 begin for as low as $99 for adults and $60 for children 12 and under. Family 4-PACK's are also available and include four General Admission season tickets and complimentary parking for only $400—a total savings of $200. Three-game mini-plans and single-game tickets for the Wolf Pack's seven-game home slate are also available by visiting MyNevadaTickets.com or by calling (775) 348-PACK.

Nevada Football on 2024 Preseason Watch Lists

S Keyshawn Cobb
Comeback Player of the Year Award

RB Sean Dollars
Doak Walker Award

RB Patrick Garwo III
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
Comeback Player of the Year Award

EDGE Henry Ikahihifo
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year

LB Tongiaki Mateialona
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year