<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4fHqQb_1Es8OwA700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4fHqQb_1Es8OwA700" width="1024" height="733" ><figcaption>Former Dimond standout James Reinbold will wrap up his NCAA career at Central Michigan. Photo courtesy of Cornell</figcaption></figure>The Dimond High football program has produced some of Alaska’s greatest college players over the years; guys like Chris Kuper, Brandon Pili, Brett Denton, Dietrich Moore and Wilbur Hooks.It’s time to add James Reinbold to the list.The 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman is the state’s active Division I tackles leader going into Central Michigan’s season opener Saturday. This will be Reinbold’s first year with the MAC team after the former All-Ivy League standout transferred earlier this year from Cornell, where he made 75 stops in 31 career games.From grad student to incoming freshmen, there are 15 Alaskans playing in the FBS and FCS this fall, and Reinbold might be the best of the bunch as an all-conference lineman and All-American student.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0sXAq2_1Es8OwA700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0sXAq2_1Es8OwA700" width="829" height="773" ><figcaption>Alaska’s Division I football crew</figcaption></figure>Last season at Cornell, Reinbold started all 10 games and finished with 45 tackles, including six and a half for loss. He added 4.5 sacks, including four against Penn.He was named a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist, which is awarded to the top college football player with the best combination of academics, leadership, and on-field performance.With 75 tackles, Reinbold moved past Pili – the former USC star now playing for the Seattle Seahawks – for 12th place on the all-time list among D1 players from Alaska, and needs 20 more to catch former West star James Price, who played at Washington State from 1997-99.After he jumped in the transfer portal in January, the offers rolled in from Toledo, Campbell, Incarnate Word, Eastern Washington, Furman, Southern Utah, New Mexico State, Louisiana Monroe, Maine, Illinois State and Montana State before he settled on Central Michigan.Among the 15 Alaskans on the field this season, six are from two Anchorage high schools: West and Bartlett, including the Alailefaleula bros, which is where we start in our players-at-a-glance from The Last Frontier. Deuce AlailefaleulaHometown: AnchorageHigh School: BartlettCollege: Boise StateNotes: The 6-foot, 295-pound freshman defensive lineman is yet to appear in a game for the Broncos. Last year, Alailefaleula was a one-man wrecking crew with 11 sacks and five blocked field goals as the top overall recruit in Alaska. He totaled 117 tackles – including 70 solo stops and 25 for loss – and was named Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year, the first primary defensive standout to win the award in 20 years.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0MFmdp_1Es8OwA700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0MFmdp_1Es8OwA700" width="240" height="300" ></figure>Niko AlailefaleulaHometown: AnchorageHigh School: BartlettCollege: Southern UtahNotes: The 5-11, 225-pound junior running back has racked up 146 all-purpose yards in 22 career games, including one TD reception and a 36-yard run – the longest by an Alaskan in a NCAA Division I football game since 2001. He also has a 22-yard kickoff return and four tackles on special teams. As a senior at Bartlett, he rushed for 1,615 yards – the fourth-highest total in school history.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2F8wbh_1Es8OwA700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2F8wbh_1Es8OwA700" width="240" height="300" ></figure>Antone AraujoHometown: JuneauHigh School: Moved at age 14College: StonehillNotes: The 6-foot, 195-pound sophomore defensive back is in his second season with the Skyhawks. As a freshman, he appeared in one game against Wagner and registered one tackle. This year, he might be in for a position change after catching a 10-yard pass against New Haven in the season opener. He went to O’Dea High School in Seattle, where he was All-Metro as a safety and quarterback.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3A9M2F_1Es8OwA700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3A9M2F_1Es8OwA700" width="211" height="300" ></figure>Malachi CaseyHometown: AnchorageHigh School: DimondCollege: LamarNotes: The 6-1, 212-pound junior wide receiver is in his first season with the Cardinals and made his debut against Abilene Christian in Week 0. Casey spent his first two seasons at Sierra, where he started 21 games and finished JC career with 73 catches for 1,076 yards and nine TDs. As a senior at Dimond, Casey averaged 20.4 yards per catch and posted a career-high 221 yards against Bartlett in the playoffs. His 46 receptions and 922 yards are both single-season school records.Landon DrummHometown: AnchorageHigh School: SouthCollege: West VirginiaNotes: The 6-3, 187-pound freshman wide receiver moved to Colorado prior to his senior season in 2025 and caught 56 passes for 1,013 yards and nine TDs at Arapahoe High School. Before that he starred at South and as a junior set school records for receptions (52) and yards (929).Sone FalealoHometown: AnchorageHigh School: WestCollege: Washington StateNotes: The 6-6, 290-pound offensive lineman is yet to play in a game for the Cougs. The former all-state standout was MVP of the offensive lineman his senior season at West.Aaron HamptonHometown: AnchorageHigh School: WestCollege: Cal-BerkeleyNotes: The 6-1, 235-pound junior inside linebacker owns 43 career tackles in 21 games. Last year, he played in all 13 games and came off the bench to record 15 tackles against Virginia. As a senior at West, he was one of the state’s top wideouts during the regular season before moving to running back for the state title game, rushing for 140 yards and a TD in a 34-21 win over South. He was the 2023 Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year.Ali JosephHometown: AnchorageHigh School: Moved before high schoolCollege: Bethune-CookmanNotes: The 5-8, 155-pound junior wide receiver is in his first season with the Wildcats. He is yet to make an appearance, but the season is young. Joseph came to Bethune-Cookman after two seasons at Santa Barbara CC. He grew up in Anchorage before moving to Florida and attending Clearwater High School, where he spent time at wideout and halfback. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4MBfLw_1Es8OwA700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4MBfLw_1Es8OwA700" width="214" height="300" ></figure>Junus McGrawHometown: AnchorageHigh School: WestCollege: WyomingNotes: The 6-foot, 191-pound junior cornerback is in his first season at Wyoming after spending the last two seasons at West Liberty University, where he amassed 63 career tackles and two interceptions in 14 games. Last year, he collected 51 tackles, including 33 solo stops and was a CSC Academic All-District selection. The former basketball player spent his freshman year at West before moving out of state and becoming an all-state safety for Coeur d’Alene High School. He also played at the SFA Academy.Jack NashHometown: PalmerHigh School: ColonyCollege: South Dakota StateNotes: The 6-1, 200-pound sophomore linebacker has appeared in six career games, including Week 0 of this season when he made a career-high two tackles against Stetson. He made his college debut in 2025 and helped the Jackrabbits beat Northern Iowa on Hobo Day. He was selected for the Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award. A former QB in high school, Nash became the third Alaskan to furnish 1,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in a season on his way to winning 2022 Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year honors.Deyvid PalepaleHometown: AnchorageHigh School: Moved at age 14College: MichiganNotes: The 6-2, 322-pound defensive tackle is in his second season with Big Blue. He appeared in two games on the D-line, including the Citrus Bowl against Texas. He also contributed on special teams in one game and was twice named Scout Team Defensive Player of the Week. The son of two East grads, he moved to Pennsylvania before high school. As a senior, he was a unanimous choice for the Football News Outstanding Lineman of the Year. In 2024, he was named to the Polynesian Bowl All-Star Team.Earl ParkerHometown: FairbanksHigh School: LathropCollege: UtahNotes: The 6-2, 186-pound junior cornerback is in his first season with the Utes after a terrific two seasons at Hutchinson CC, where he won a national title and recorded 28 career tackles, two pass breakups and one interception in 17 games. As a senior at Lathrop, the former wide receiver caught 13 TDs – tied for the sixth-highest total in Alaska history.James ReinboldHometown: AnchorageHigh School: DimondCollege: Central MichiganNotes: The 6-4, 260-pound defensive lineman is a grad student playing in his first season with the Chippewas after graduating from Cornell. The first Academic All-American in Cornell football history, Reinbold piled up 75 career tackles and five sacks in 31 games. Last year, he earned All-Ivy League second team honors and named a CSC First Team Academic All-American.Erwin TaomiHometown: AnchorageHigh School: BartlettCollege: USCNotes: The 6-4, 375-pound junior offensive lineman is in his second season with the Trojans after spending his freshman season at Hancock College. At USC, he made his lone appearance against Missouri State. Before that he played in five games for Hancock, making five tackles, including one for loss.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0wRqDg_1Es8OwA700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0wRqDg_1Es8OwA700" width="225" height="300" ></figure>Deuce ZimmermanHometown: AnchorageHigh School: EastCollege: Northern ArizonaNotes: The 6-foot, 190-pound senior wide receiver is in his first season with the Lumberjacks after an all-conference career at D2 Western New Mexico, where he hauled in 104 receptions for 1,611 yards and 20 TDs in three seasons. Zimmerman averaged 15.5 yards per catch and posted seven games with 100 receiving yards, with a career-high 182 yards – the third most by an Alaskan at any level. As a senior at East, Zimmerman grabbed 52 passes for 950 yards and 13 TDs. His 181 yards against Service are the second highest single-game total in school history.<h2>Story made possible by:</h2>Family of SponsorsAdvanced Diagnostics, INC | Joe Alston | Anchorage Wolverines | Glen Bailey | Pamela Barbeau | Lauri Bassett | Kathie Bethard | Logan &amp; Heather Birch | Black-Smith, Bethard &amp; amp; Carlson, LLC | Wiley &amp; Brandy Bland | Richelle Bloomquist | BOSCO's | The Carle Family | In Memory of Dick Griffith | Chris &amp; John Clark | Don Clary &amp; Judy Besh | Zareena &amp; Allen Clendaniel | Continental Auto Group | The Conway Family | In Memory of Cody Roman Dial | Joey Caterinichio &amp; Ja Dorris | Donley Family | Ellsworth Foundation | Fairbanks Youth Sports | Foley &amp; Pearson | Lew Freedman | Deb Essex | Foley &amp; Pearson | GMC Contracting Inc. | Michael Graham | Jim &amp; Michelle Hajdukovich | Joe Hayes | Team Heat | Curt Hebert | Invisalign-Ben Ward | Mark &amp; Jamie Johnson | Joe Kathcen | Joseph Keuter | Luke &amp; Gretchen Kiskaddon | Alice &amp; Gunnar Knapp | Kristopher Knauss | Loren Kroon | Jane Lanford | Michael Marting | Lisa &amp; Eric Maurer | Carrie Melville | Sean &amp; Jodi McLaughlin | Jason &amp; Shannon Metrokin | Richard Mize | Chris &amp; Melinda Myers | Multisport Training of Alaska/Lisa Keller | Kathleen Navarre | Matt Nevins | Melanie &amp; Don Norris | R&amp;M Consultants, Inc. | Kim Rampmeyer | RE/MAX Dynamic Properties Kevin Taylor | Replacement Glass | Residential Mortgage | Mara Robinowtiz | Harlow Robinson | Pete Robinson | RSA Engineering- Sarah &amp; A.J. Schirack | Ruth Sandstrom | Seawolf 5th Line | Skinny Raven | Mark Silverman/Silverman Dental | Moria Smith | Al Sokaitis | Roe Sturgelewski | Swalling &amp; Associates | Scott Taylor | In memory of Drs. John &amp; Elizabeth Tower | William Watterson | Todd Whited | Seth Wickersham &amp; Alison Overholt | </div></body>

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The Dimond High football program has produced some of Alaska’s greatest college players over the years; guys like Chris Kuper, Brandon Pili, Brett Denton, Dietrich Moore and Wilbur Hooks. It’s time to add James Reinbold to the list. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman is the state’s active Division...

Ready, set, hike: Look for these Alaskans on Division I gridiron

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The Dimond High football program has produced some of Alaska’s greatest college players over the years; guys like Chris Kuper, Brandon Pili, Brett Denton, 

Ready, set, hike: Look for these Alaskans on Division I gridiron

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