Polynesian Bowl Game Preview: A look at top prospects and potential risers

HONOLULU —Polynesian Bowl week officially kicks off on Sunday in what will be year No. 10 of the event. 

Every year the talent at the Polynesian Bowl is upgraded and this could be the deepest year yet. There are nearly 20 Rivals Industry rated five-star prospects including a loaded group of 2027 underclassmen. 

The game will be played at a new venue, Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on the campus of the University of Hawaii January 16th at 9:00 P.M. ( EST) /4:00 P.M local time and aired on the NFL Network.

What can nation’s top prospect do for an encore  

LSU signee Lamar Brown is the No. 1 rated player in the country and the rare player who would be a likely top 10 prospect on both sides of the line. He’s a dominant offensive tackle and defensive end and is coming off a strong showing at the recent Under Armour All-American Game. It’s expected he’ll take reps on both sides of the line of scrimmage and is just a tremendous all around talent. 

Loaded crop of underclass talent

This year’s game not only boasts the top senior in Brown but the top underclassman in the country as well in Texas Tech defensive line commit Jalen Brewster. Brewster is the No. 6 overall player in the Rivals Industry Ranking and No. 1 by Rivals.com for the ’27 class. He solidified his standing with an MVP showing at the Under Armour AA Game two weeks ago. He’s a physical freak with a college body right now and moves extremely well for a player his size. You never want to use the term, ‘can’t miss’ too loosely because you never know what can happen but it will be a major surprise if Brewster isn’t an immediate impact player from day one and a three-and-out NFL guy. 

– On the opposite side of the line of scrimmage is Mark Matthews, the No. 2 rated player in the ’27 class and the No. 1 offensive tackle nationally. He looks the part of a prototype left tackle with great feet, balance and fluidity. He has the kind of frame that isn’t close to filling out and he already plays with a nice edge in his game. Miami, Ohio State and Texas A&M are drawing the most buzz with Matthews at this time. 

– Not far behind Brewster and Matthews is talented edge rusher David Jacobs. The Ohio State commit checks in as the No. 10 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking. He’s coming off a huge junior season where he racked up over 100 tackles and 16 quarterback sacks. He has been dominating at a high level since his freshman year and has the multi-sport background as well and is a talented hooper on the hardwood. 

Lineman to watch

– In addition the above mentioned linemen, junior Caden Moss is yet another five-star prospect, currently rated the No. 15 player nationally in the ’27 Rivals Industry Ranking. Moss still has a pretty large list of schools he’s considering and took game day visits to Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Auburn, Tennessee, Ohio State and Texas are also getting mention. 

– Just behind Moss is offensive lineman Albert Simien, the No. 18 rated player in the ’27 Rivals Industry Ranking and the No. 2 rated interior lineman.  Simien had a strong showing at the recent Under Armour AA event and finished as a top 10 overall performer for the week. 

– Zyron Forstall is yet another ’27 five-star prospect in the trenches. The talented edge rusher is rated the No. 9 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Forstall recently came out with a top four, headlined by  LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M.

– Chris Whitehead is yet another talented edge prospect planning to attend. Whitehead is the No. 26 prospect nationally in the ’27 Rivals Industry Ranking and the No. 4 edge as well. Whitehead lived in the backfield the last two seasons, registering back to back double digit sack totals and over 40 tackles for loss. 

– Texas Tech offensive tackle Felix Ojo is one of the highest rated players competing from the ’26 class, checking in at No. 14 overall in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Ojo has plenty of size and length and has just the right amount of nastiness in his game you want to see in a young lineman. 

Potential 4-star Risers

One of the benefits of the big three post season All-American Games is the best on best opportunities we get to see for the elite athletes to go head to head. There are always a few players who receive a four-star and even five-star bumps and this year is no exception. 

– Local boy and Cal quarterback signee Nainoa Lopes is player we’re excited to see. He’s a high three-star with an 89 Rating and is coming off a strong senior year. Lopes has made a big jump in his game over the last year and has a nice all around skill set. He has an athletic 6-foot-3 frame with plenty of room to add good weight, can rip the ball down the field and has one the more pure strokes in the region. 

– Another local player we’re high on is Cal tight end signee Taimane Purcell. Like Lopes, Purcell is a high three-star with an 89 Rating so he’s right on the cusp. He’s what you call a box checker at the position- projectable frame, strong hands, short area quickness to get initial separation, speed to make plays down the field and a willing blocker. A strong week from Purcell and he  could definitely elevate his stock. 

– BYU signee Jaron Pula is already a four-star and his twin brother Kennan Pula is right there on the bubble as well. He’s a two-player who was thought of as more of a receiver early on in his career but the more we watch him, we really like him as a safety and that’s where he’ll start out in college as well. 

– Washington signee Tufanua Umu-Cais is a true nose guard and a load in the middle of the defensive line. He has the ideal combination of size, power and an underrated burst getting up the field. He can take on a double team and still get a push and has some pass rush ability to him as well. 

– Texas A&M signee Brandon Arrington had a dominant week at last week’s Navy All-American Bowl and is a potential five-star riser but last we heard, he will likely not be able to attend this weeks event. If he does show up and competes like he did in San Antonio, it’s definitely worth a conversation about how high could the speedy corner rise.

Casuga leads solid Quarterback group

Quarterback play always plays a huge role in how good an All-American game is and Texas A&M signee Helaman Casuga is one of the prolific quarterbacks in Utah state history. He’s the No. 235 rated signal caller in the Rivals Industry ranking and rallied from a torn ACL injury as a junior to show he’s one of the best pure throwers in the country. 

– Arizona signee Oscar Rios is another top 250 player nationally and was an Elite 11 selection. He’s a true dual-threat who can stress a defense with his arm and his legs and is about as competitive as they come. 

– Sione Kaho is an underclassmen to watch and the No. 274 player nationally in the ’27 Rivals Industry Ranking. Washington is the team to watch right now but keep an eye on Cal. New Bears head coach Tosh Lupoi recruited his older brother Ale Kaho to Alabama.

Dynamic crop of running backs

There aren’t many players more intriguing from an athletic standpoint than Myson Johnson-Cook. He’s a true two-way player who’s getting looks on both sides of the ball but is expected to work out at running back this week. At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, Johnson-Cook has a freakish combination of size and 10.30-100m speed. 

– Tyson Robinson is the No. 4 rated running back in the ’27 Rivals Industry Ranking. Robinson is a downhill banger who brings some burst and physicality to the field. Miami, Michigan and Tennessee are the three schools creating the most buzz right now. 

– Landen Williams-Callis is another talented ’27 athlete and checks in as the No. 5 back in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Williams-Callis has a thick 5-foot-8 frame and can fly. He clocked a 10.65-100m and is coming off a sophomore season where he rushed for over 2,000 yards and 43 touchdowns. Texas A&M is the early leader at this point. 

– Among the ’26 group, USC commit Deshonne Redeaux is a key part of the Trojans top rated recruiting class. He’s a rocked-out 200 pounds with high level quickness and is a true home run hitter. He’s improved as a pass catcher out of the backfield as well and we really like where his game is trending. 

Two Buckeyes lead a loaded WR corp 

Ohio State commits Chris Henry and junior Jamier Brown are the headliners among the pass catchers. 

Henry is the top rated pass catcher in the ’26 class. His 6-foot-5 frame and huge catch radius is the first thing that jumps out but he has down field speed to go along with it. 

Brown is the No. 2 rated receiver in the ’27 class and is one of the most explosive athletes in the country. He has verified track times of 10.53-100m and 21.37-200m and his speed shows up on the tape. He’s dynamic after the catch and can score from anywhere on the field. 

– Right behind Henry in the ’26 class is Oregon signee Jalen Lott. Lott is the No. 3 receiver in the Rivals Industry Ranking and like Brown, is a true burner who can get behind any defense. He’s an elite long/high jumper and is a fun player to watch because of his body control and ability to win contested catches. 

– Xavier Sabb is a two-way standout, ranked as the No. 1 athlete in the country and is listed with the wide receiver group. He can play safety as well and we really like the all around athletic profile. He’s an all-conference basketball player, track standout and offers special teams value in the return game as well.  His older brother Keon Sabb was a defensive back at Alabama. 

– Similar to Sabb, former Utah signee Salesi Moa could easily play receiver or safety but is listed with the receivers and that’s where we usually see him line up during camps or 7v7s. He said he’s planning to play both ways for the Utes and is one of the few players we think could actually pull it off. Moa, a short-term signee who entered the transfer portal, will announce his next commitment during the game.

– Ethan Feaster is a big part of USC’s top ranked recruiting class and he saw his stock rise with a strong senior year. He was a four-year starter for Texas power DeSoto and is currently rated the No. 38 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Feaster was good for at least one highlight reel catch every game it seemed and is dominant in 50-50 ball situations. 

Henry and Henderson lead the back seven

Kaden Henderson is the top rated linebacker in the game as well as the No. 2 rated ‘backer in the country in the ’27 Rivals Industry Ranking and No. 27 player overall. He’s a ferocious hitter, runs extremely well, can play in space and his closing speed is exceptional. Texas A&M, Ohio State, Florida State, Alabama, Oregon and Tennessee are his early leaders. 

The top rated defensive back in the game is cornerback junior Raylaun Henry. Henry checks in at No. 50 overall in the Rivals Industry Ranking and the No. 8 corner as well. The Texas A&M commit is long and active, pushing 6-foot-1 and plays a physical game as an outside boundary corner. 

– Notre Dame corner commit Ace Alston is the No. 128 player nationally in the ’27 Rivals Industry Ranking. He’s a technically sound corner with a natural feel for how to play the position. 

– USC signee Talanoa Ili is an every down linebacker who does a little of everything well. He can rush the passer, play in space or drop in coverage. He’s a player we’ve been tracking since he was an 8th grader and the talented athlete brings a ton of positional versatility to the table. 

– Taelyn Mayo has rare size for the corner position, pushing 6-foot-3. The talented junior is rated the No. 133 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking. His recruitment could develop in to a classic Texas- Oklahoma battle. 

– Tory Pittman is not just the top rated safety in the game but the top rated safety in the country in the Rivals Industry Ranking. The Nebraska commit slots in as the No. 31 player nationally in the ’27 class. He’s a plus athlete who shows strong cover skills for the safety position. 

– Oregon signee Davon Benjamin is among the most versatile athletes in the country. Over his H.S career, he scored touchdowns as a running back, receiver, punt returner, kick returner and safety. He’s rated as a corner and definitely has the twitch and athleticism to play there but could also slide over and play safety as well.