HONOLULU-Wednesday morning, Detroit Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell was named as the Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year.

Sewell, a former star at Desert Hills High School of St. George and Oregon, was the Lions’ first draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, being selected No. 7 overall.

Of Samoan descent, Sewell has started all 17 games for the 15-2 Lions this season, playing an integral role in their clinching of the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs and a first round bye.

Since the inception of this award in 2015, the recipients are as follows:

2015: San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Mike Iupati (Idaho)

2016: then-Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (now with the Washington Commanders; Idaho)

2017/2018: then-Pittsburgh Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (currently with the Kansas City Chiefs; USC)

2019: Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame)

2020: no award

2021: Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (Oregon)

2022: San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga (USC)

2023: Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama)