He doesn’t graduate from high school for more than two years, but Elijah Haven, the star sophomore quarterback for Dunham High School, already has an NIL deal.
Haven has been brought aboard as a spokesman for the Matt Bowers Auto Group.
Matt Bowers says he’s known Elijah and his family for a long time, and he couldn’t think of anyone better to be the face of his company.
“When you take the helmet off and talk to the kid, there is something really different and unique about him,” says Bowers. “Some people in Baton Rouge already know, but I think a wider, broader range of people will get to know. He’s a kid that you meet and you want him to succeed. He’s a kid you’re rooting for.”
Bowers says he has known the Havens for a long time.
“He knows me, I know his family personally. They’re friends of mine,” Bowers says. “So he can with good conscious — and given his history with me — say, ‘Hey, look, this is a guy I like, this is a guy I do business with, this is a guy you need to come see.'”
Haven led Dunham to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the Division III select title game at the Prep Classic, where they lost to Catholic-New Iberia.
Despite having two years of high school football in front of him, Haven already has scholarship offers from LSU, Ole Miss, Michigan, Florida and Miami, among others.
Bowers is an Ole Miss alumnus, but he insists that this NIL deal is not a way to convince him to sign with the school.
“Am I involved in Ole Miss athletics? Yeah, just like anybody like me.” says Bowers. “Do I pay kids to play football and stuff like that? I haven’t in the past. No.”
Bowers says he believes LSU has the inside track among the schools which have offered him a scholarship.
“He goes to Dunham High School. He lives in Baton Rouge. I would think that LSU should be in pretty good shape, barring let’s say that people alienate him or his family.” Bowers says.
Bowers did not disclose how much Haven’s NIL deal is worth.
He did say that it’s a win-win for everyone.
“He’s endorsing the businesses and we’re promoting his accomplishments on and off the field,” says Bowers. “So it’s a partnership.”
Comments