Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school football. America's source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2025 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Deuce Alailefaleula of
Bartlett (Anchorage) is the 2025 MaxPreps Alaska High School Football Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1, 290-pound senior defensive lineman helped the Golden Bears to a 7-3 record and first state championship game appearance since 2017.
Alailefaleula led Bartlett in tackles (117), tackles for loss (25), sacks (11) and blocked field goals (5).
In a 9-2 victory over Service (Anchorage) in the Division 1 semifinals, Alailefaleula racked up 23 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack. He helped the Bartlett defense limit opponents to just 9.9 points per game on the season.
Alailefaleula's father, Tui, is the defensive coordinator for Bartlett and had a standout career at the school before playing at the University of Washington and briefly in the NFL with the New York Giants and New York Jets. He was named the Alaska Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after piling up 90 tackles and 18 sacks.
Regarded as the top prospect in the state by 247Sports, Alailefaleula committed to Boise State in June over a dozen other offers including Arizona, Boston College, California and Washington State.
Past MaxPreps Alaska Players of the Year
2020 — Jordan Holland, WR/DB, Bettye Davis East Anchorage (Anchorage)
2021 — Kyler Johnson, QB, Bettye Davis East Anchorage
2022 — Jack Nash, QB/S, Colony (Palmer)
2023 — Aaron Hampton, WR/LB, West Anchorage (Anchorage)
2024 — Cayden Pili, QB, Dimond (Anchorage)
