UNLV: Returns to UNLV after a one-year stint at UCLA ... A rare scholarship signee from the Last Frontier … Will look to compete for time this fall at guard … Joins a pair of former Rebel walk-on WRs, Casey Flair and Tate Knutson (both of East Anchorage HS), in making his mark in Las Vegas after graduating high school in Alaska … A member of the UNLV Dean’s Honor list in spring 2021 ... Name is pronounced “ah-LON-ee MAH-kah-HELL-ee.”
2024 (UCLA):
- Played in all 12 games, making two starts at right guard
- Appeared primarily on special teams
- Made Polynesian College Football Player of the Year preseason watch list
2023: Played in 13 games ... Made 11 starts at left guard.
2022: Earned his first letter as a Rebel by appearing in six games along the line.
2021: Member of squad but did not appear in a game.
2020: Redshirted season.
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2020 graduate of West Anchorage HS … Rated as a three-star offensive line prospect by 247Sports and ESPN … The top football recruit in the state of Alaska was ranked the No. 140 guard in the nation by 247Sports and No. 161 by ESPN … A two-year letterwinner under coach Tim Davis … Helped the Eagles to an 8-2 record as a senior in 2019 … Played left guard, left tackle, defensive end and defensive tackle for the Eagles … As a senior, earned his league’s offensive lineman of the year award and was named the all-state offensive lineman of the year … Added first team all-state and all-league honors and was the state’s all-star game most valuable offensive lineman … As a junior, was a second team all-state and all-league offensive lineman selection … Finished career with 33 tackles over two seasons … Also competed in track and field for the Eagles.
PERSONAL: Alani Fonua Makihele was born in Sacramento, CA … The son of Toni and Vanessa Makihele … Has four siblings, Kristiana, Toni, Gideon and Titus … Brother Toni played college football at Eastern New Mexico … Majoring in criminal justice.
