- May 5, 2024
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Nathaniel Dell’s dream hasn’t changed since the first time he stepped on a football field. He wanted to play college football and then he wanted to play in the National Football League.
He’s done with step one.
The Mainland wide receiver has committed to play college football at Florida International University.
“The coaches had been keeping in touch with me and telling me to keep working hard,” Dell said.
Dell describes himself as a burner.
He has looked up to NFL receivers like Tavon Austin and DeAnthony Thomas because he sees a bit of himself in each of those players. Dell has exceptional speed and athleticism, and he should be a good fit to new head coach Butch Davis’ first FIU squad.
Davis is most known for his success at the University of Miami, where he accrued a 51-20 record in six seasons.
Since then he coached for the Cleveland Browns and the University of North Carolina. Now, after a brief hiatus, he has settled at Florida International to build a young program in his image.
Dell sees a lot of similarities between his current coach at Mainland in the man he’ll play for in college.
“Coming from coach Scott [Wilson], he [Davis] reminds me of him,” Dell said. “They both win, love to win and love to compete.”
At 5-foot-10 and 155 pounds, Dell is part of an already explosive unit of receivers including FSU commit D’Marcus Adams and slot receiver B.J. Jenkins.
“We [the wide receivers] have one of the tightest bonds on the team,” Dell said. “We have a group chat where we text each other and we are going to be great because we all have a bond together.”
Dell becomes the fourth 2018 commitment from Mainland, joining Adams, strong s
“I’m ready to show everybody down there what I can do,”
- Nathaniel Dell, Mainland wide receiver
afety Johnathan Huggins (FSU) and offensive lineman Adonis Boone (USF).
After the team won its district last season, Mainland is expecting big things again.
For Dell, the work starts now to prepare him for a state title run and his first season at FIU.
“I’m ready to show everybody down there what I can do,” Dell said. “Nothing else to say other than I’m just blessed.”
