ArrayList and Nodes

I trying to rewrite a particular method (see below). This method is a constructor that takes in an ArrayList as a parameter. The ArrayList should add names into the object in the exact order as they appear. Each new node should be added to the end of the linked list.

First version:

public AssassinManager(ArrayList<String> players) { 
    if (players == null || players.isEmpty()) { throw new IllegalArgumentException(); }
    killring = new AssassinNode(players.get(0)); // create first node - for the killring
    AssassinNode node = killring; 
    for (int i = 1; i < players.size(); i++) { // Add a new node at the end of each killing 
        node.next = new AssassinNode(players.get(i));
        node = node.next;
    }
}

The new version:

private KillList killring; 
private AssassinNodeData graveyard;

public AssassinManager(ArrayList<String> players) {
    if (players == null || players.isEmpty()) { throw new IllegalArgumentException(); }
    killring = new KillList(players.get(0));
    KillList node = killring; 
    // some code
}

KillList extends LinkedList<AssassinNodeData> Now I'm trying to achieve the same thing without using next.

Any suggestions or solutions is greatly appreciated!