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The University of Utah Athletics
Fano, Lomu Tabbed Finalists for Polynesian College Football Player of the Year
12/9/2025 9:00 AM | Football
Pair of Utah offensive linemen included among 10 players in consideration
HONOLULU — Utah offensive linemen Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu have been named finalists for the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award, announced on Tuesday by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.
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Now in its 12th season, the award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity. The 10 finalists were selected out of nearly 100 players considered on the watch list, being evaluated by a nine-member committee that includes former Utah head coach Ron McBride.
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Fano, who is of Samoan ancestry, was named Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year and first-team All-Conference. The junior and Spanish Fork, Utah, native started all 12 regular season games at right tackle and is currently a finalist for the Outland Trophy—presented to the nation's outstanding interior lineman. He has an 84.0 overall grade this season from PFF, ranking eighth in FBS. Fano has played in 37 games with 35 starts in his three seasons at Utah.
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Lomu, a native of Gilbert, Arizona, has been opposite Fano for all 12 games at left tackle. The redshirt sophomore of Tongan ancestry was a first-team Big 12 All-Conference selection and has totaled 25 career games at Utah with 22 starts. Lomu's prowess has shown with an 82.1 pass blocking grade from PFF and just six hurries in 357 snaps.
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Utah's offensive line, known as the Wasatch Front, was named a Joe Moore Award semifinalist in addition to being voted Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week four times. The pair blocked for an offense that has been reimagined in 2025, ranking seventh nationally during the regular season with 478.6 total yards per game. The team lit up the scoreboard with 40.9 points per game—sixth in the country—and led the Big 12 in third-down conversions (52.8%).
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Utah had the best regular season rushing offense of any Power Conference program at 269.8 yards per game; the Utes enter bowl season needing just 27 yards and two touchdowns to break single-season program rushing records.
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The Utes' passing game has been electric as well, thanks in part to the guys up front. Neither Fano nor Lomu have not allowed a sack all season according to PFF. Meanwhile, Utah threw for multiple touchdowns in 10 of 12 games.
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The group entered 2025 as one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country, coming into the year with 234 combined career games played. Importantly, all 234 combined games in that preseason total were played at Utah.
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FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
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Now in its 12th season, the award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity. The 10 finalists were selected out of nearly 100 players considered on the watch list, being evaluated by a nine-member committee that includes former Utah head coach Ron McBride.
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Fano, who is of Samoan ancestry, was named Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year and first-team All-Conference. The junior and Spanish Fork, Utah, native started all 12 regular season games at right tackle and is currently a finalist for the Outland Trophy—presented to the nation's outstanding interior lineman. He has an 84.0 overall grade this season from PFF, ranking eighth in FBS. Fano has played in 37 games with 35 starts in his three seasons at Utah.
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Lomu, a native of Gilbert, Arizona, has been opposite Fano for all 12 games at left tackle. The redshirt sophomore of Tongan ancestry was a first-team Big 12 All-Conference selection and has totaled 25 career games at Utah with 22 starts. Lomu's prowess has shown with an 82.1 pass blocking grade from PFF and just six hurries in 357 snaps.
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Utah's offensive line, known as the Wasatch Front, was named a Joe Moore Award semifinalist in addition to being voted Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week four times. The pair blocked for an offense that has been reimagined in 2025, ranking seventh nationally during the regular season with 478.6 total yards per game. The team lit up the scoreboard with 40.9 points per game—sixth in the country—and led the Big 12 in third-down conversions (52.8%).
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Utah had the best regular season rushing offense of any Power Conference program at 269.8 yards per game; the Utes enter bowl season needing just 27 yards and two touchdowns to break single-season program rushing records.
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The Utes' passing game has been electric as well, thanks in part to the guys up front. Neither Fano nor Lomu have not allowed a sack all season according to PFF. Meanwhile, Utah threw for multiple touchdowns in 10 of 12 games.
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The group entered 2025 as one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country, coming into the year with 234 combined career games played. Importantly, all 234 combined games in that preseason total were played at Utah.
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FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
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