Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Dylan Raiola on power of Georgia brand, potential NIL platform

Dylan Raiola has an inkling of where he might start his NIL journey.

The Georgia commit and top-ranked prospect in the 2024 recruiting class has become a skilled barber. A practice he refined throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, he cuts his parents’ and teammates’ hair.

So, when he recently saw two other members of the 2024 class ink endorsement deals with the health and beauty company Bevel, it piqued his interest.

“Like Bevel? Yeah that’d be cool,” Raiola said with a chuckle at last month’s Elite 11 Finals.

Despite the recent move to Georgia to play his senior year of high school at Buford, he won’t be able to execute his first NIL agreement until he reaches college. The Peach State is one of multiple high school associations in the that does not allow high schoolers to profit from their publicity rights.

By the time he arrives in Athens, the Five-Star Plus+ quarterback will provide immense value to brands. Raiola is closing in on 60,000 social media followers. He already has clout with the Georgia fan base. Companies in the greater Atlanta area will want to be associated with him.

He will also have the Block “G” behind him. The back-to-back national champions are arguably college football’s biggest brand at the moment. Corporate partners could work with the institution’s multimedia rights holder — JMI Sports and Learfield — to ensure Raiola is wearing the black and red while posing in advertisements.

Stetson Bennett made more than $1 million through endorsements in his final year with the Bulldogs. That came after winning a national title. Raiola will be arriving on campus with a major following, the promise of a highly-touted prospect and the hope of being Kirby Smart‘s first quarterback wiz.

“That G is known worldwide. They got a saying, ‘Always reppin’ the G,'” he said. “I learned some things on my official — Atlanta is right there. The biggest airport hub in the world. They got all the big businesses you think of are based out of Atlanta. There’s a lot of resources.”

‘Giving back to community’ will be NIL priority for Dylan Raiola

Whenever he does execute his first NIL agreement, Dylan Raiola plans to have his parents play a notable role in crafting his platform. The quarterback previously indicated he could have seen a significant payday if he wanted to play the NIL game as a recruit.

That was not a factor. He wants to compete at the highest level. But he is aware he has a story that is closely being watched by most of the country.

“I never take what I what I have for granted,” he said. “I’m grateful for everything. I wouldn’t be here without my parents or all the people on my journey. So, I think there’s definitely a story to be told about how I got to this point. But you know, NIL is just a byproduct of football. Keep it the main thing.”

Raiola will surely be able to profit from NIL — he holds a $883,000 On3 NIL Valuation. With that will come with the opportunity to give back. USC quarterback Caleb Williams has created the Caleb Cares Foundation, focused on anti-bullying, youth empowerment and mental health awareness. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy has used his NIL to establish his JJ For the Kids foundation, which has worked with a number of children’s hospitals throughout the country.

Giving back to his community will be a piece of Raiola’s NIL plan, he said. Specifically his church community.

“That’s the first thing I’m gonna do, 100%,” he said. “Community and my church. Church is probably the biggest thing — faith in my life. So giving back to that and then serving the community.”

The son of former NFL offensive lineman Dominic Raiola and Yvonne Raiola, he feels fortunate to be raised in a household with two parents. Originally from the Phoenix area, he has spent time playing high school football in Arizona and Texas. He’ll get a taste of Georgia this fall, too.

Having his parents together has left a lasting impression on him, though. With three other siblings, no matter where the family has moved, he has been able to rely on his parents. It’s why supporting single parents will also be a factor in his NIL earnings.

“Single parents, just feel feel drawn to that because I’ve been blessed to have both parents married in my life,” he said. “So I feel the kids that don’t have both parents, I feel that they deserve a little more extra love. They’re strong people, they go through a lot. Props to them.”