Tamatoa McDonough

AMES — Iowa State defensive lineman Tamatoa McDonough has been named to the watch list for the 2025 Polynesian College Player of the Year Award, presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry.

McDonough, a redshirt senior, transferred to Iowa State after spending four seasons at Yale.

An Asheville, N.C. native, McDonough played in 28 games while at Yale and recorded 49 tackles, 9.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.

McDonough earned all-Ivy League second-team honors in 2024 after finishing the season with 27 tackles and a team-high 6.5 sacks. During the season, he had a stretch where he registered a sack in five consecutive games.

Iowa State opens the 2025 season August 23 in Dublin, Ireland, against Kansas State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.