HONOLULU - Another day, another preseason honor for the senior linebacker from Sacramento. The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame added Levelle Bailey to its preseason watch list for its 2023 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award.
The award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity. The watch list is composed of 85 players from 40 different FBS schools.
Bailey enters the 2023 season as the most experienced player on the Bulldogs' defense, having played (45) and started (36) in the most games on that side of the ball. Bailey returns as the team's leading tackler from 2022, totaling 88 tackles (54 solo) for a single-season career-best. In his career, he has 195 tackles (114 solo), 20.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks. He adds three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 17 pass breakups.
Bailey is a three-time All-Mountain West honorable mention linebacker (2020, 2021, 2022).
Bailey's Preseason Honors
Bednarik Award watch list
Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
Wuerffel Trophy watch list
AllState AFCA Good Works team
Shrine Bowl 1000
First team All-Mountain West (Phil Steele)
Second team All-Mountain West (Athlon Sports)
About the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year
The Watchlist candidates have been selected based on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list will be made as the 2023 season progresses. The finalists and winner will be chosen by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee which includes former NFL Player and Inaugural Inductee Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman), Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL Player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, Inaugural Inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former NFL Player and Class of 2015 Inductee Ray Schoenke, ESPN Sportscaster Neil Everett, and NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche.
The winner of the 2023 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on December 14. Five finalists will be unveiled on November 30. The presentation of the Award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner (January 20, 2024) at the Sheraton Waikiki, and they will also be recognized at halftime of the Polynesian Bowl (January 19, 2024).
Former University of Oregon, Philadelphia Eagles QB Marcus Mariota was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Award in 2014; former University of Notre Dame, Baltimore Ravens OL Ronnie Stanley in 2015; former University of Colorado QB Sefo Liufau in 2016; former Washington State University, former Minnesota Vikings DE Hercules Mata`afa in 2017; former University of Alabama, Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in 2018 & 2019; former University of Oregon, Detroit Lions OL Penei Sewell in 2019; former University of Southern California, San Francisco 49ers Safety Talanoa Hufanga, and former Brigham Young University, New York Jets QB Zach Kapono Wilson in 2020; former DL at The Ohio State University Haskell Garrett in 2021; and former University of Southern California, Los Angeles Chargers DL Tuli Tuipulotu in 2022.
More on the award and the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame can be found here.