Shortly after locking in his commitment to the Texas Longhorns last year, five-star quarterback Dia Bell wasted no time planting his flag in the new world of NIL. That early jumpstart paid off. With one deal already in the books, Bell has now added a heavyweight to his growing endorsement portfolio. The rising star out of American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) is beginning to move in the same circles as the nation’s biggest young athletes. And if this week’s announcement is any indication, he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Dia Bell has officially signed an NIL partnership with Gatorade. The deal follows his selection as the 2024 Florida Gatorade Player of the Year. A campaign where the 6-foot-2 QB posted 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns through the air. With that kind of stat line, paired with his poise and polish under center, it’s no wonder brands are lining up to tap into the Bell brand. According to On3′s valuation metrics, his NIL worth currently sits at a staggering $927,000, among the highest for any high school football player in the country.
This new Gatorade contract marks his second major NIL move, following his earlier deal with Leaf Trading Cards signed just two months after his pledge to Texas. In many ways, Bell is treading the same high-ceiling path as another Gen Z athletic phenom—Duke basketball’s Cooper Flagg. A projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Flagg also inked a headline-making NIL deal with Gatorade, becoming the first men’s college basketball player to align with the brand. It’s a symbolic passing of the torch as the beverage giant leans further into the prep-to-pro narrative. For Bell, this puts him in rarefied air, where Gatorade isn’t just a sideline drink but a career milestone.
Texas 5-star QB commit Dia Bell has signed an NIL deal with Gatorade, @PeteNakos_ reports
Bell was the 2024 Florida Gatorade Player of the Year. He has a $927,000 On3 NIL Valuation.
Read: https://t.co/NsyDwQ6mpP pic.twitter.com/7d5bDYSvMS
— On3 NIL (@On3NIL) April 28, 2025
Bell’s stock has soared heading into his senior season, and for good reason. Already considered one of the top passers in the 2026 recruiting cycle. He’s earned an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles this summer—a proving ground for the nation’s best high school signal-callers. In the most recent On300 rankings, he sits at No. 4 overall and is now ranked as the No. 2 QB nationwide. His rise has been meteoric but methodical, built on crisp footwork, deep-ball accuracy, and command of a college-style offense that’s rare at the high school level.
More impressively, he becomes the second Florida QB in recent memory, after DJ Lagway, to win the GPOY honor and subsequently sign a deal with the brand. That kind of trend isn’t coincidental. It speaks to the depth of talent coming out of the Sunshine State and how players like Bell are using it as both a stage and a springboard. These NIL moves aren’t just about money. They’re about long-term positioning, visibility, and aligning with a cultural legacy that Gatorade has cultivated through icons like Serena, LeBron, and MJ.
Dia Bell is Texas’ future star QB
The Longhorns may only have four commitments in their 2026 recruiting class so far, but make no mistake. Dia Bell is the crown jewel. The lone five-star in the group, Bell has already given Steve Sarkisian a major head start in building the future of the program. And if early scouting reports are any indication, this kid is going to be special.
On3’s Charles Power had nothing but high praise for the elite signal-caller: “Precision passer with the arm talent, size, and athleticism to translate to college football and beyond.” That’s not casual flattery—those words carry weight. With a whopping 10-inch hand, Bell has the build college coaches dream about. Even better? He’s mechanically sound, with what Power called a “smooth throwing motion that he replicates with consistency.”
Bell’s polished footwork syncs perfectly with his upper body, allowing him to deliver dimes all over the field. He’s a pocket assassin, but he’s no statue—Bell can escape pressure, reset, and launch. His deep ball? Chef’s kiss.
In 2025, Bell completed 70.6% of his passes for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns, tossing just six picks. Oh, and he added 561 yards and five scores on the ground. With NBA bloodlines (his dad is longtime pro Raja Bell) and a basketball background, Bell’s athletic ceiling is sky-high. The torch Arch Manning carries might soon be passed to this up-and-comer.
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