Honolulu, HI (July 10, 2017) – The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced today that NFL players Michael Bennett, Marcus Mariota, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Ronnie Stanley have been named Ambassadors for the 2018 Polynesian Bowl.
The Polynesian Bowl is a premier high school football all-star game featuring 100 of the world’s elite football players. The game will be played Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Aloha Stadium on O`ahu, Hawai`i during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend. It will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Legends Dick Vermeil and Terry Donahue will serve as Head Coaches. A majority of players will be of Polynesian ancestry.
“In less than a year, the Polynesian Bowl has become one of the nation’s premier high school football all-star games,” said Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota. “I am honored to be part of this special celebration of culture and football.”
Of note for Duck fans are several players with Oregon ties. Two current commits, Dawson Jaramillo and Braden Lenzy, will play in the game, as will several other Oregon targets. Chase Cota, Isaah Crocker, Tommy Brown, MJ Ale, Penei Sewell and Talanoa Hufanga headline the list of Oregon targets scheduled to play in the second year of the event.
The 2018 Polynesian Bowl Honorary Team Captains will be Cleveland Browns NT Danny Shelton and San Francisco 49ers DL DeForest Buckner. Past Polynesian College Player of the Year honorees Marcus Mariota and Ronnie Stanley served in those roles for the inaugural game.
Duck Sports Authority can also announce that we will be present for all of the events that weekend, including the enshrinement ceremony and the game from Aloha Stadium in Hawaii.
“I look forward to welcoming the best high school football players to Hawai’i,” said Seattle Seahawks DE Michael Bennett. “There is no place more beautiful than the Aloha State.”
INAUGURAL POLYNESIAN BOWL GOOD FOR OREGON
At last years game, there were six commitments with two of them picking the Ducks on live television.
Austin Faoliu, a 6-4 and 295 pound three-star defensive tackle from Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), committed to Oregon over Oklahoma. The other player to choose the Ducks at the game was Isaac Slade-Matautia, a four-star linebacker from Saint Louis (Honolulu) High School, the alma mater of former Ducks star Marcus Mariota
For all of the game information please visit: http://www.polynesianbowl.com/
ABOUT THE NFL PLAYERS
Marcus Mariota: Mariota, of Samoan ancestry, attended the University of Oregon QB where he became the Ducks first ever Heisman Trophy Award winner. Mariota was the second overall pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2015 NFL Draft following his outstanding career at Oregon. He is a past recipient of the Polynesian College and Pro Football Player of the Year awards.
DeForest Buckner: Also of Samoan ancestry, the defensive linemen was drafted in 2016 by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round with the seventh overall pick following a stellar career at the University of Oregon where he was a 2015 First Team All-American and PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year. As a rookie, Buckner was selected to the Pro Football Writers NFL All-Rookie Team….
Michael Bennett: Bennett, whose wife and children are of Samoan ancestry, is currently an unrestricted free agent. The standout defensive end has been selected to two pro bowls, winning the Pro Bowl MVP in 2015. He was a member of the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Champion team in 2013. Bennett attended Texas A&M University and currently resides in Hawai’i.
Danny Shelton: Drafted in 2015 by the Cleveland Browns in the first round with the 12th overall pick, the defensive linemen is of Samoan descent. Shelton attended the University of Washington where he was named First Team All-PAC-12.
JuJu Smith-Schuster: A wide receiver, Smith-Schuster was drafted in 2017 by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round with the 62nd overall pick. Of Samoan descent as well, Smith-Schuster attended the University of Southern California where he was named First Team All-PAC-12.
Ronnie Stanley: The offensive tackle, of Tongan Ancestry, was drafted in 2016 by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round with the sixth overall pick. A past recipient of the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award, Stanley attended the University of Notre Dame where he was named Consensus All-American.
ABOUT THE POLYNESIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame honors Polynesia’s greatest players, coaches and contributors. It also serves as a resource for Polynesian football history, provides college scholarships and supports educational programs. Its permanent home is located at the Polynesian Cultural Center (O`ahu’s North Shore) and was established in 2013 by Super Bowl Champions Jesse Sapolu and Ma’a Tanuvasa. Other board members include Troy Polamalu, Vai Sikahema, June Jones and Reno Mahe.
For more information, visit www.PolynesianFootballHOF.org
