Fiso, who was also named to the watch list for the Bednarik, Nagurski and Butkus Awards, returns for his final season as the most experienced starter for the Sun Devil defense. He has started 36 games in his career, leading the Sun Devil seniors, and needs 12 starts to match Evan Finkenberg's career record of 48. With 11 starts this season, he would tie Dexter Davis for most starts by a defensive player at ASU. Fiso has made 32 consecutive starts for the Sun Devils, six more than tight end Kody Kohl for the team lead.
In 2016, he ranked 12th in the country in solo tackles (78) and 8th in tackles for loss (20). With 36.5 tackles for loss in his career, Fiso is just 6.5 shy of cracking ASU's all-time top-10 list in the category while his 178 solo tackles put him in a prime spot to challenge Brett Wallerstedt's long-standing career record of 238 from 1989-92.
Moeakiola, who was a co-captain in 2015, often joins teammates in donating time to the community, including hospital visits, youth camps and visiting nearby high schools. In 2016, the former linebacker will make the change to safety after starting in all 12 games during his redshirt junior season, totaling 51 tackles (33 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also recorded an interception, five pass breakups, six pass deflections and a fumble recovery.
The redshirt senior has been recognized for his capabilities on and off the field the past two seasons, earning Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2015 and All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention in 2014. Moeakiola was also named to the Wuerffel and Allstate Good Works Preseason Watch Lists as well.
The winner of the 2016 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on December 7, 2016. Five finalists will be unveiled on November 17. The formal presentation of the award will be held at the Celebration Dinner during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend on January 20, 2017.
"It is remarkable that the first two recipients of the Award were selected in the top six picks overall in the NFL Draft (#2 Marcus Mariota, 2015 and #6 Ronnie Stanley, 2016)," said Jesse Sapolu, Chairman & Co-Founder. "This award allows us to showcase the tremendous impact that our Polynesian student-athletes are having on the game of football."
The Watch List candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list may be made as the 2016-2017 season progresses. The finalists and the winner will be chosen by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, which includes Coaches Dick Tomey (Chairman), LaVell Edwards, Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, past NFLPA President and Inaugural Inductee Kevin Mawae, ESPN Sportscaster Neil Everett, NFL player personnel legend Gil Brandt and Honolulu Sportscaster Robert Kekaula.
2016 Sun Devil Award Watch ListsMaxwell Award (America's College Player of the Year) – Demario Richard
Chuck Bednarik Award (College Defensive Player of the Year) – Salamo Fiso
John Mackey Award (Most Outstanding Tight End) – Kody Kohl
Ray Guy Award (Nation's Best Collegiate Punter) – Matt Haack
Lou Groza Award (Nation's Top Placekicker) – Zane Gonzalez
Bronko Nagurski Award (Nation's Defensive Player of the Year) – Salamo Fiso
Outland Trophy (Nation's Most Outstanding Interior Lineman) – Tashon Smallwood
Butkus Award (Nation's Best Linebacker) – Salamo Fiso
Wuerffel Trophy (Exemplary Community Service) – Viliami Moeakiola
Allstate AFCA Good Hands Award (Commitment to Service) – Viliami Moeakiola
Polynesian CFB Player of the Year -- Salamo Fiso, Viliami Moeakiola
New Season Tickets for the 2016 Season
Secure your spot in Sun Devil Stadium. Season ticket deposits for the 2016 Sun Devil Football season are available now at www.sundeviltickets.com or by calling 480-965-5812. Deposits are applied to the cost of the season ticket and current season ticket holders do not have to place a deposit. Sun Devil Football's 2016 campaign begins with back-to-back games at the new and improved Sun Devil Stadium on Sept. 3 against Northern Arizona and Sept. 10 against Big 12 foe Texas Tech. ASU's six-game home schedule also includes defending Pac-12 South Co-Champion Utah and fellow conference opponents UCLA, Cal and Washington State.
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