Fresno State Athletics
Netane Muti named to 2018 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
8/9/2018 8:00:00 AM | Football
Fresno State sophomore offensive lineman Netane Muti has been named to the 2018 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List as announced by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame on Thursday.
HONOLULU - Fresno State sophomore offensive lineman Netane Muti has been named to the 2018 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List as announced by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame on Thursday. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity.
One of 50 players from 34 different FBS programs named to the watch list, Muti enters his sophomore season with the 'Dogs having started all 14 games as a redshirt freshman on his way to earning All-Mountain West honorable mention honors.
A native of Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai`i, Muti was a member of an offensive line unit that ranked third in the nation in sacks allowed, having allowed just 10 sacks all season, a clip of 0.71 per game. The offensive line unit also ranked third in the nation in tackles for loss allowed, having allowed 46 TFLs, a rate of 3.29 TFLs allowed per game.
Muti helped the offensive line hold six opponents without a sack over the season's 14 games while the maximum allowed was two, recorded by Alabama (Sept. 9) and Boise State (Dec. 2) and the 'Dogs didn't allow a tackle for loss in a crucial 27-3 win over San Diego State, marking the first time a Fresno State offensive line did not allow a tackle for loss in a game since Sept. 10, 2011 at Nebraska.
After redshirting the 2016 season, Muti arrived at Fresno State after earning Second-Team ScoringLive All-Hawaii Division I honors as an offensive lineman and second-team American Family Insurance ALL-USA Hawai'i honors as a defensive lineman, as well as first-team all-O'ahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) Red honors as a defensive lineman and second-team accolades as an offensive lineman while at Leilehua High School.
One of 13Â players from the Mountain West nominated for the award, Boise State leads the way with four nominees followed by three from Hawai'i, two from Utah State and one apiece from Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State and UNLV. The Broncos are joined by BYU and USC with a nation-leading four nominees apiece. The Pac-12 leads the country with 16 nominations followed by the Mountain West (13), Big 10 and Independents with five, SEC (3), Big 12 (3), Conference USA (2), American (1), Conference USA (1), Mid-American Conference (1) and Division I-AA (1).
Now in its fifth year, the inaugural recipient of the award in 2014 was Oregon quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Notre Dame offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley picked up the award in 2015, Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau won the award in 2016 and former Washington State and current Minnesota Viking defensive end Hercules Mata'afa received the award in 2017.
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One of 50 players from 34 different FBS programs named to the watch list, Muti enters his sophomore season with the 'Dogs having started all 14 games as a redshirt freshman on his way to earning All-Mountain West honorable mention honors.
A native of Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai`i, Muti was a member of an offensive line unit that ranked third in the nation in sacks allowed, having allowed just 10 sacks all season, a clip of 0.71 per game. The offensive line unit also ranked third in the nation in tackles for loss allowed, having allowed 46 TFLs, a rate of 3.29 TFLs allowed per game.
Muti helped the offensive line hold six opponents without a sack over the season's 14 games while the maximum allowed was two, recorded by Alabama (Sept. 9) and Boise State (Dec. 2) and the 'Dogs didn't allow a tackle for loss in a crucial 27-3 win over San Diego State, marking the first time a Fresno State offensive line did not allow a tackle for loss in a game since Sept. 10, 2011 at Nebraska.
After redshirting the 2016 season, Muti arrived at Fresno State after earning Second-Team ScoringLive All-Hawaii Division I honors as an offensive lineman and second-team American Family Insurance ALL-USA Hawai'i honors as a defensive lineman, as well as first-team all-O'ahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) Red honors as a defensive lineman and second-team accolades as an offensive lineman while at Leilehua High School.
One of 13Â players from the Mountain West nominated for the award, Boise State leads the way with four nominees followed by three from Hawai'i, two from Utah State and one apiece from Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State and UNLV. The Broncos are joined by BYU and USC with a nation-leading four nominees apiece. The Pac-12 leads the country with 16 nominations followed by the Mountain West (13), Big 10 and Independents with five, SEC (3), Big 12 (3), Conference USA (2), American (1), Conference USA (1), Mid-American Conference (1) and Division I-AA (1).
Now in its fifth year, the inaugural recipient of the award in 2014 was Oregon quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Notre Dame offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley picked up the award in 2015, Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau won the award in 2016 and former Washington State and current Minnesota Viking defensive end Hercules Mata'afa received the award in 2017.
"The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award has become one of the most prestigious awards in college football," said Jesse Sapolu, Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Chairman, Co-Founder and Inductee. "This Award allows us to showcase the tremendous impact of our Polynesian student-athletes."
The winner of the 2018 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on Dec. 14, 2018. Five finalists will be unveiled on Dec. 5. The presentation of the award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner and will be recognized at halftime of the Polynesian Bowl at Aloha Stadium on Jan. 19. 2019."Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes is the official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs.
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Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateFB
Instagram:Â Fresno_State_Football
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
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