Zion Wells ’23 walked the halls of Archbishop Riordan High School as a student and a member of The Crusader newspaper. As an athlete, he played basketball, ran track, and played football for the Crusaders. 

     With the Davidson Wildcats, he suited up as a wide receiver for his freshman and sophomore years. Now, he is the Head of Football NIL at National NIL Sports. 

     The transition from playing football to working with the NIL was a hard decision for Wells. 

     Wells said, “At first I didn’t know if I was going to join this agency because I was still debating if I wanted to go back to playing football.”

     He continued, “I felt like it was a blessing in disguise from stepping away from football or just other opportunities opened up.” 

     Division 1 football was a unique experience for Wells and a period of growth leading to his current position. 

     Wells said, “I would use the word growth to describe it.” 

     He added, “It felt like it shaped the man I am today from just my experience playing football and just with certain things I do.” 

     In his high school career, he was a part of an undefeated freshman A basketball team that went on to win a championship. As a wide receiver, he was a two-time All-League selection in 2021 in 2022 through his elite play. 

     Athletic Director Bob Greene said, “We always take great pride in what our students do, our student athletes when they leave Riordan.”

     He added, “I think he’s a unique case because obviously, the athletic gifts but then you also have all the other things that he does well outside of athletics.” 

      In his current role as the Head of Football NIL, Wells has had the opportunity to work directly with college athletes and build various connections. 

     “I’m in the process of signing a couple of college athletes now, and the next couple of days actually I’ll have one of my first clients signed so that’d be some big news for me.” 

     Wells doesn’t plan to stop at making strides at the college level however. His goals are even larger than that. 

     “My end goal is to become a sports agent in either professional basketball or professional football.”