Moreno Awards: The Polynesian Bowl
HONOLULU – The Polynesian Bowl as soon as once more proved to be one other nice alternative to guage most of the high prospects within the 2025 class plus a choose group of juniors all through 5 days in Hawaii.
Most of the gamers who shined all through the 4 practices continued their robust play throughout Friday’s recreation, and now it’s time to have a look again on the week in Honolulu and hand out some awards.
READY FOR THE LIMELIGHT: Husan Longstreet
The USC-bound quarterback, who has already been on campus with the Trojans for weeks shined practically day by day in Hawaii. Longstreet ended up being essentially the most constant sign caller of the week and was capable of showcase his biggest property as a quarterback. He received lengthy ball problem with a 78-yard throw earlier within the week, and so it was becoming when he ended up connecting on a 75-yard landing cross to place Staff Makai forward for good sealing his Co-MVP honors with Oregon receiver signee Dakorien Moore. Longstreet was dedicated to Texas A&M for a number of months earlier than flipping his pledge to the Trojans late within the course of, and he has put himself in good place to step into the highlight early in his profession in Southern California.
BALLHAWK: Tae Harris
The Georgia Tech signee was dinged up late in Thursday’s observe and ended up with a cross breakup in Friday’s recreation, nevertheless it was the work that he did all through the week that basically set Harris aside from most of the different defensive backs taking part within the recreation. He ended the week with 4 interceptions and most of them got here on troublesome performs that required spectacular instincts from the Cedartown, Georgia native. Harris was energetic within the secondary from the get go Monday, when he had two interceptions, and that continued all through the week. He performs with a ton of poise and confidence, and ought to be an influence participant early for the Yellowjackets.
KING OF PRESSURE: Deuce Geralds
He received the defensive MVP award for his efficiency within the recreation, which included 7 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, nevertheless it wasn’t simply that Geralds was spectacular on recreation day that earned him this award. It was clear who the perfect defensive position performer was on a constant foundation all through the week in Hawaii. The four-star defensive lineman from Georgia moved to totally different spots, however he was dominant wherever he lined up. Geralds proved to be an issue for practically each offensive lineman he confronted throughout one-on-one drills, and he was a disruptive pressure within the backfield on recreation day.
THE SHOWSTOPPER: Dakorien Moore
5-star gamers have a manner of exhibiting up when it issues most, and the Oregon-bound receiver left little question about his skill to placed on a present. Moore made a number of spotlight catches all through the week however none will high his ultimate catch in Hawaii after he was on the receiving finish of the cross from Longstreet that ultimately received the sport for Staff Makai and received him a share of the offensive MVP award. His one-handed seize in site visitors that ended with a stellar run after the catch was the highest play of the sport and showcased his skill to be a distinction maker. He’s a freak athlete, who additionally received the quickest man problem on Day 1, and is primed to be a star in Eugene for the Geese.
MR. CONSISTENT: Winston Watkins
One other one of many quickest gamers in attendance this week, the Ole Miss signee was about as constant as a participant might be at an all-star occasion. Watkins didn’t have a single unimpressive day in the course of the week of practices in Hawaii. His skill to get open and make performs in house was on show all through the week, and he introduced all of it collectively on recreation day. Watkins completed with a team-high 8 catches for 77 yards and a team-high 2 touchdowns Friday placing a bow on a formidable week for the 5-foot-10 speedster from Venice, Florida. His skill to make use of his pace to get upfield was spectacular all through the week and made life simple on the Staff Mauka quarterbacks.
HE’S GOT NEXT: Aaron Gregory
If not for Moore’s 130-yard efficiency, the 2026 Texas A&M commit would have been the highest story at receiver. Gregory shined day by day for Staff Mauka, and he carried that over into Friday’s recreation with a stellar efficiency at receiver. He caught 7 passes for 113 yards to guide his workforce and that was indicative of his play all through the week. As certainly one of solely 20 juniors on the roster for the sport, there was some stress to face out and he delivered along with his skill to run nice routes and get behind the protection. Should you didn’t realize it, you wouldn’t suppose he was a 12 months youthful than most of his counterparts within the recreation, and that could be a nice praise for somebody nonetheless in his junior 12 months.
MR. GAME READY: Iose Epenesa
It was a troublesome week for the linemen to face out since a lot of the practices had been with out pads, however the Iowa-bound defensive lineman managed to benefit from his alternatives for contact. The four-star’s final title goes to garner him a specific amount of consideration along with his brother, A.J., at present within the NFL, however the 2025 recruit from Edwardsville, Illinois has already began to make his personal title as a soccer participant. Epenesa had 4 tackles and a sack on recreation day following up a robust exhibiting earlier within the week in the course of the offensive line-defensive line one-on-one drills. He appears the a part of a high-level defensive lineman, and he actually got here to play when the lights went on in Honolulu.
MAKE’EM NOTICE: Madden Soliai
The lone in-state 2026 recruit on the roster for the Polynesian Bowl, the three-star prospect from Kahuku Excessive Faculty was a pleasing shock all through the week. There have been a number of “who was that?” moments for the three-star cornerback prospect over the 4 days of observe, and he saved that productiveness going into Friday’s recreation with 5 tackles to complete second amongst defensive backs on Staff Makai. Utah, Cal and Arizona have emerged as early contenders, however he will probably be somebody coaches ought to turn into concerned with within the upcoming cycle primarily based on his skill to disrupt passes and decelerate a number of the high receivers within the Polynesian Bowl.
THE PRODUCER: Matai Tagoa’i
He’ll get his probability to step into the highlight at USC, and Tagoa’i used to be spectacular as a playmaker throughout his 5 days in Hawaii. The Rivals250 defensive again admits that he’s a “tweener” when it comes to place along with his body that’s befitting of a security, however his recreation actually says linebacker. There wasn’t a lot contact all through the week for defensive gamers, however Tagoa’i made it clear that linebacker ought to be his match on the subsequent degree. He led Staff Mauka with 7 tackles within the Polynesian Bowl, and his skill to make performs within the passing recreation and working recreation as a downhill linebacker was spectacular.
DR. DOMINANT: Keenyi Pepe
The highest-50 offensive sort out from IMG Academy grew to become a little bit of an unofficial chief for Staff Makai. He led the pregame haka and positively grabbed the respect of his teammates all through the week. Pepe appears the a part of a high offensive lineman along with his 6-foot-7, 290-pound body, and he was simply as spectacular when he was capable of get on the sphere. It was troublesome for any defensive lineman to even problem Pepe in one-on-one conditions, and he proved his skill to lock down the sort out spot each in observe and in Friday’s recreation. There’s no secret why most of the high applications within the nation proceed to prioritize the 2026 prospect this winter.
