HONOLULU, Hawaii – Old Dominion linebacker Koa Naotala was named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List, the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced on Thursday.
Presented annually, the award honors the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who exemplifies exceptional ability and integrity both on and off the field. This year’s list features 81 players from 40 different NCAA Division I programs.
Naotala earned second team All-Sun Belt Conference honors last season, leading the Monarchs and finishing 10th in the league with 88 tackles. He led the squad in tackles in five games and had four double-digit tackle games, including a career best 18 tackles against East Carolina.
A former walk-on, Naotala was the Monarchs’ Burlsworth Trophy Award nominee last season. The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the top player in the country that began their career as a walk-on.
Naotala and the Monarchs open the 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Indiana. ODU hosts North Carolina Central in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.