Palmer football standout earns chance to play at the next level

PALMER — The thought of playing college football was not on Cal Tipton’s mind at any early age. But as he approached the final year of his high school career, the Palmer High School standout knew his time on the field was far from over.

Now Tipton has the chance to take the next step in the sport. Tipton signed his National Letter of Intent to attend Dickinson State in Dickinson, North Dakota, and play for the Blue Hawks.

“April of my junior year, I thought, oh crap, I’m going to miss football,” Tipton said during a ceremony at the PHS library Wednesday afternoon. “I talked to coach (Tim Popowski), and he got me on the route to sign with a college.”

Tipton is a 6-foot-4 and 350-pound offensive lineman. He was a three-year right tackle with the Moose, and a Division II first-team all-state selection as a senior. Tipton will continue at tackle at the college level.

“Cal is a very large human; you cannot teach someone to have the size and length that he possesses. He is very physical at the point of attack and loves to finish blocks through the whistle. He has a lot of room to grow and develop as an offensive lineman, with his best days of football still out in front of him. We can’t wait for Cal to get to here and improve our offensive line,” Dickinson State head coach Pete Stanton said in a press release issued by the athletic department.

Tipton said he will redshirt as a true freshman in 2022.

“I love what he said when he wants to take a year and mature and grow,” Popowski, Palmer’s head coach, said. “I think strength-wise, it’s something he’s going to want to do so he can compete right away when he gets the opportunity.”

Popowski said Tipton certainly has the potential to succeed at Dickinson.

“With him playing in that system, he’s going to do quite well,” Popowski said. “I’m super excited for Cal. When he went down on his visit he had a lot of fun. The coach staff, facilities are amazing down there. I feel like it is the right spot for him.”

Tipton said he also considered Montana Tech.

“I’m from Butte (Montana) and have a family connection there, but I got offered the best opportunity at Dickinson,” Tipton said.

Dickinson earned its seventh straight conference title in 2021 and was nationally ranked in the NAIA top-25. Tipton is one of three Alaskans in Dickinson’s current recruiting class. There were also three Alaska products on the 2021 roster.

“I think it’s great they’re making a big connection uo here now,” Tipton said. “I think it’s great they’re reaching out to more kids who don;t get more exposure up here.”

Tipton said he will study mathematics education in college and hopes to return to Palmer to coach and teach.

“I love Palmer. I love Alaska. I moved here in the fifth grade, but I like to say it’s my hometown,” Tipton said.

Contact Frontiersman editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.