quinton dial.jpg

San Francisco defensive end Quinton Dial moves in to tackle Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard during an NFL game on Dec. 20, 2015.

(AP Photo)

Quinton Dial, who was taken in by friends when he lost his home in high school, owns a new contract with the San Francisco 49ers that guarantees him $5.3 million and could be worth up to $16 million.

"It just shows how much hard work pays off," Dial said. "It's definitely a blessing to be a part of the Niners for the next four years."

Dial's NFL career didn't start as though he'd be a future candidate for a contract extension. He opened his rookie season on the reserve/non-football injury list.

Dial played on Alabama's 2011 and 2012 BCS national-championship teams before being drafted in the fifth round by San Francisco in 2013. After the Crimson Tide closed the 2012 season by thumping Notre Dame 42-14 in the title game, Dial had surgery for a torn ligament in a big toe, and he didn't start practicing with the 49ers until October.

Dial got into three games as a rookie. In 2014, though, he came on to start six of the 49ers' final seven games at nose tackle. In 2015, Dial became a full-time starter at defensive end.

"I'd say the biggest transition I had to make was, obviously, the speed of the game and everybody's good in the NFL," Dial said during an appearance on "The Fitz and Brooks Show" on KNBR-AM 680 in San Francisco. "You might have a couple of teams that's not so good in college that you can just beat up on. The thing I had to learn is you've got to come each and every week despite the team's record. On any given Sunday, you can be beaten. That's just the fact of the matter. You've got to show up for work every day."

In his first two seasons with the 49ers, Dial learned from defensive end Justin Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler who retired after 14 NFL seasons in 2014.

"I definitely look forward to stepping into more of that leadership role," Dial said. "I wouldn't say I'm going to be just like Justin Smith because my game is totally different from Justin Smith. But there's a lot of things that I learned, implemented into my game from Justin Smith. I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge of stepping into that leadership role and bringing the young guys along."

When the 49ers fired coach Jim Tomsula after the 2015 season, Dial lost a booster who appreciated his toughness and work ethic and saw his future at defensive end rather than nose guard in San Francisco. Tomsula served as San Francisco's defensive line coach for eight seasons before being elevated to head coach in 2015.

The 49ers replaced Tomsula with Chip Kelly, cut loose by Philadelphia after three seasons as the Eagles' head coach. San Francisco finished last in points and next-to-last in yards in the NFL last season, so Dial hopes Kelly can "bring a spark to the offense because he's an offensive-minded guy."

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Dial signed a three-year contract extension with the 49ers on Feb. 24. His base salary for the 2016 season -- $675,000 - remains the same as in his four-year rookie contract. The new deal included a $3.2 million signing bonus and called for base salaries of $1,500,000 in 2017, $2,400,000 in 2018 and $3,375,000 in 2019.

Dial earned the 2008 ASWA Class 6A Lineman of the Year Award playing for Clay-Chalkville High School.

During the NFL offseason, Dial said he'd been "laying low out here in Alabama" and doing some hunting and fishing.