Three USC Football Players Named to 2016 Polynesian Player of Year Watch List

USC football’s JuJu Smith-Schuster, Toa Lobendahn and Damien Mama were named to the 2016 watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award.

USC football had three players included on the 2016 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award watch list — wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, center Toa Lobendahn and guard Damien Mama.

Last year, Smith-Schuster and teammate Su’a Cravens were beaten out for the award by Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley.

Smith-Schuster is considered one of the top receivers in the country heading into 2016. Despite playing half of the season with a broken hand, the Trojan wide out logged 89 catches for 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns.

He is expected to be in contention for the Biletnikoff Award and All-American honors as a junior.

SEE ALSO: Could JuJu Smith-Schuster Break USC Records In 2016?

Lobendahn has started 20 games at four different positions across the offensive line in his two years at USC. In 2014 he earned Freshman All-American honors and an All-Pac-12 honorable mention.

As he returns for his junior season, the center will hope to get back to full speed after tearing his ACL last October, an injury which caused him to miss six games in 2015.

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Mama is also back for his third year with the Trojans after starting 13 games last season and earning an All-Pac-12 honorable mention.

The big-bodied offensive guard is looking to live up to the massive expectations he arrived at USC with.

The Trojans are three of 16 Pac-12 players on the list, which is as many players watched from every other conference combined. BYU, an independent, led all schools with six players on the list.

In addition to USC’s representatives, the Pac-12 placed Utah offensive lineman Isaac Asiata, defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei and defensive end Pita Taumoepenu; ASU linebackers Salamo Fiso and Viliami Moeakiola; UCLA defensive back Randall Goforth and tight end Nate Iese; Oregon defensive lineman Canton Kaumatule; Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau and defensive lineman Josh Tupou; Washington State safety Shalom Luani and defensive end Hercules Mata’afa; Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon.

Finalists for the award will be revealed on Nov. 17 with the winner of the award to be announced on Dec. 7.