.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
JuJu Smith-Schuster Named Finalist For Polynesian Player Of The Year Award
USC’s JuJu Smith-Schuster was named a finalist for the 2016 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award on Tuesday morning.
Trojan wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was named a finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award for the second year in a row, as one of five players in the running to be named top player of Polynesian descent in 2016.
Smith-Schuster entered the year with high expectations after stellar freshman and sophomore campaigns. The junior wide out has dealt with a series of injury limiting his production, but still leads USC with 59 catches for 758 yard on the year.
With an average of 68.9 yards per game and eight touchdown catches, Smith-Schuster ranks fifth in the Pac-12.
Despite suffering a hip pointer during the UCLA game, Smith-Schuster played through the injury and finished with a team-best eight catches for 76 yards, setting up a short rushing touchdown with a long reception which put USC at the goal line.
More from Reign of Troy
Smith-Schuster was also a critical for the Trojans as they exited the rough September slate, logging 100-yard games against ASU, Colorado and Arizona consecutively.
Along with Smith-Schuster, the Polynesian Hall of Fame named Louisville’s Cole Hikutini, Colorado’s Sefo Liufau, Utah’s Lowell Lotulelei and BYU’s Kai Nacua as finalists.
The winner of the award will be announced on December 8
Last year, Smith-Schuster and USC linebacker Su’a Cravens were beaten out for the honor by Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley. Oregon’s Marcus Mariota won the inaugural award in 2014.
This article originally appeared on 
