Wake Forest DL Dallas Afalava Named to Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Wake Forest senior defensive lineman Dallas Afalava has been named to the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List, recognizing one of the experienced leaders of the Demon Deacons’ defensive front.

Afalava is one of 69 players from 36 schools under consideration for the award, which honors the top college football player of Polynesian ancestry for ability and integrity. He was also named to the award’s preseason watch list in 2025.

In his first season at Wake Forest, Afalava started all 13 games and finished with 32 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, eight quarterback hurries, a pass breakup, a blocked kick, a forced fumble and an interception.

He posted a career-high six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in Wake Forest’s upset win over No. 19 Virginia that secured bowl eligibility. Afalava later recorded 1.5 sacks in the Deacons’ bowl victory and finished 2025 rated by PFF as the ACC’s eighth-best pass-rushing defensive lineman.