12 Players With Local Ties To Participate In 2019 Polynesian Bowl

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The state of Utah will have 12 high school football players that have ties to the beehive state either as a former player or a prospect that has committed to a university. They will gather in Hawaii to participate in the 2019 Polynesian Bowl.

Seven of those players are committed to either Utah, BYU or Utah State. Four prospects are from the state of Utah but hasn’t committed to a university yet, but have their eyes on some of the local schools. One player is from Utah and has committed to play out of state, that is Siaki Ika of East High School who is committed to LSU.

Here are the 12 football players that will participate in the 2019 Polynesian Bowl on Saturday, January 19 at 10 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

Akili Arnold

He is a three-star cornerback/safety that has committed to play at Utah State. He is from Mission Viejo High School in California. Arnold received 10 offers during his recruitment that included Oregon State, Arizona State, Boston College, Colorado State, Hawaii, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming. According to 247, Arnold is ranked No. 80 prospect from California.

Jacob Conover

The Chandler High School product is a four-star quarterback that has committed to BYU. He will serve a church mission in February before enrolling in Provo. Conover is an ESPN Top 300 prospect that threw for over 10,000 yards and 102 touchdowns in his high school career. He had 12 scholarship offers that include Arizona State, Alabama, Arizona, Memphis, Nevada, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Oregon State, South Carolina, Utah State and Washington State.

WATCH: @BYUfootball @jacob_conover17, POLYNESIAN BOWL ALL-STAR 🤙🏽🌴@247recruiting @kryan247 @BrandonHuffman @bangulo @FootballRecruit @TotalBlueSports @kaceyrobbins @desnewssports @BYU247 @VanquishTheFoe @AZPreps365 @chandler pic.twitter.com/MjCJgqrNeV

— Polynesian Bowl (@polynesiabowl) January 16, 2019

Ethan Erickson

Erickson is a two-star tight end from Kahuku High School in Hawaii. He was an All-OIA selection in both football and basketball. Erickson received offers from Navy and Utah State. He previously prepped at Lone Peak before his family moved to Hawaii.

Lolani Langi

The Bingham High School product is a 6-2, 223 pound, three-star outside linebacker that hasn’t decided on where he will be playing college football. Langi has offers from Utah, Boise State, Nebraska and Utah State. His primary recruiter from Utah was Gary Andersen before he left to be the head coach at Utah State. He is the younger brother of former BYU linebacker Harvey Langi.

Puka Nacua

The Orem High School star wide receiver is a four-star prospect and shattered multiple state records and is one of the nations top wideouts. He currently has 12 offers from big time college football programs, but has verbally committed to USC but hasn’t signed yet. He visited Utah on December 7 and Washington on January 25, he has offers from Oregon, UCLA, Arizona, BYU, California, Nebraska, Nevada, Vanderbilt and Washington State. Puka is the younger brother of former BYU defensive back Kai Nacua.

Simonte Pepa

Pepa is from Bingham High School and is a three-star prospect and is the No. 6 prospect from the state of Utah according to 247 sports. He hasn’t committed to a university yet but has visited Utah and Wisconsin, his other 10 offers include Washington, Air Force, Arizona, BYU, Navy, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Virginia.

Siaki “Apu” Ika

Ika is the top recruit out of the state of Utah as a four-star prospect defensive tackle from East High School. He has committed to LSU and has already enrolled in school for the spring semester. Ika received offers from Florida, Oregon, USC, Utah, BYU, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, California, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee, UCLA, Utah State, Vanderbilt, Washington.

#LSU bound defensive tackle Siaki Ika says ‘Aloha’ during @polynesiabowl practice. This was the play of the day: https://t.co/v98Ce8oOXd @Sheadixon @Geaux247 @BrandonHuffman @levelupelites @Jackfish801 pic.twitter.com/1V3OAso5Cc

— Blair Angulo (@bangulo) January 17, 2019

Sataoa Laumea

Laumea is a three-star offensive guard from Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California. He has committed to the University of Utah after receiving offers from California, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, BYU, Colorado, Fresno State, Harvard, Iowa State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, Sacramento State, San Jose State, Utah State, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Washington State and Yale.

Logan Sagapolu

The Skyridge High School native is undecided on which school he will attend. He is a three-star offensive center that has offers from BYU, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, Hawaii, Nebraska, Virginia and Washington State. Sagapolu has taken three official visits to BYU, Utah and Oregon.

The Polynesian Bowl will be special for Logan Sagapolu. He’ll announce his commitment in the same stadium where his father played.

Will it be BYU, Oregon or Utah?

[🤙➡️ https://t.co/nTQsWQ7w4R] pic.twitter.com/wg77vgnsKz

— USA TODAY HSS (@usatodayhss) January 17, 2019

Junior Tafuna

Tafuna is a three-star outside linebacker from Bingham High School. He has committed to the University of Utah after receiving offers from BYU, Nebraska, Oregon and Utah State.

Done deal. #GoUtes🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/hnMW5b70Z2

— Junior Miles Tafuna (@LingChing42) November 6, 2018

Marist Talavou

Talavou signed with Utah on December 19. He is a three-star offensive guard from St. John Bosco High School in California. Talavou received offers from Arizona State, Boston College, Oklahoma and Oregon.

.@MaristTalavou68 is a Ute! #UBoyz #UtahNDS19 pic.twitter.com/2QMCMNl1re

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 19, 2018

Elijah Unutoa

Unutoa is a three-star recruit from Kapaa, Hawaii as an offensive guard. He has signed with BYU after receiving offers from California, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Iowa State and San Diego State.