The on-field success Arizona State football saw in 2024 has dramatically helped its recruiting efforts already, but it had to be built on a solid foundation of culture. For its offensive linemen, that foundation was built on Polynesian culture.
Encompassing native peoples of Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, New Zealand and hundreds of other Pacific Ocean islands, it’s a culture with roots in family and togetherness.
Arizona State offensive line coach Saga Tuitele spent much of his childhood living in American Samoa, and now uses what the program has called the “Poly Pipeline” to shuttle linemen into a culture they’re already comfortable in.
Marques Uini on Monday and Niniva Nicholson on Tuesday became the latest to put their names through the pipeline. Uini ranks as the No. 57 inside offensive lineman in 2026 and Nicholson at No. 87, per 247 Sports’ composite ranking.
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The additions bumped the Sun Devils’ 2026 class to No. 16 nationally and solidified their standing as No. 2 in the Big 12 behind only Kansas.
“Coming from the same sort of background, we’re able to bond and build that relationship quite easy,” Uini told Arizona Sports on Monday of his shared Samoan ties with Tuitele.
From an on-field perspective, Uini said ASU’s balanced offense, which allows him to showcase both his run-blocking and pass protection skills, was what stood out the most.
How deep do ASU football’s Polynesian ties go?
Eight of the 10 offensive linemen Arizona State has added in the 2025 and 2026 freshman classes have Polynesian ties.
“(Tuitele) is my dude right there,” 2025 offensive tackle signee Alema Iosua told Arizona Sports after visiting for ASU’s season-opening win over Wyoming in September. “He recruited me the hardest and truly wants me there. He really connects with the offensive line group as a family instead of a regular group.”
He added the coach made it clear to him ASU is where he wants to have his roots down and doesn’t plan to leave anytime soon.
“Being in a place that feels like home then adding to that the people of home makes everything just feel so much more natural,” Uini added.
The family atmosphere Tuitele instills was something transfer addition Jimeto Obigbo brought up before his first spring camp at ASU kicked off.
“First day, I (had) to know everybody’s name, their hometown, their high school. Like you have to know that,” Obigbo told Arizona Sports. “You just get closer naturally even if you don’t speak. You have to speak and know people.”
Offensive line isn’t the only position to take advantage, too. Israel Briggs, a tight end who’s currently ASU’s top 2026 commit, will play in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl, an all-star showcase.
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