Texas commit Dia Bell looking to prove he is “the best QB in the class”
Texas quarterback commit Dia Bell throws to the ball in a drill at the Elite 11 Austin regional at Del Valle High School on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Photo by Kelii Horvath/East Coast Gridiron
The 2024 Elite 11 regional in Austin, Texas was filled with multiple high-profile quarterbacks like Alabama signee Keelon Russell, Texas signee KJ Lacey and SMU signee Ty Hawkins. The 2025 Austin regional was no different, with prospects such as Houston commit Keisean Henderson, Oklahoma commit Jaden O’Neal and Texas commit Dia Bell. I had the chance to ask Bell about his commitment to Texas, and what drives him to compete at these events.
While the Elite 11 Tampa regional was closer to home than the regional held in Austin, Bell made the trip to Del Valle High School, which resides 20 minutes away from where Bell plans on playing football on Saturdays. It was my first time seeing Bell in person, after seeing him play a handful of times on ESPN.
Bell throws a beautiful ball, with good velocity and elite touch. Bell had no dip in accuracy when tasked with lobbing the ball over defenders.
I like to watch the way the players interact with one another and Bell seems like a great locker room guy, the other guys seem to love him and he was often making jokes. If Arch Manning is still with the Texas program when Bell enrolls, I can see the two getting along together.
Whether it was said jokingly or not, Bell asked some of the wide receivers if they would be joining him at Texas. Even if it was said in jest, Bell is taking an active approach in getting top players to join him in Austin.
One thing is for certain: Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian knows how to coach and develop the quarterback position. He has overseen the development of guys such as Matt Leinart, Mark Sanchez, Jake Locker, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and now Quinn Ewers. Bell wants to be next in a long list of Sark-coached quarterbacks to make their mark on college football.
“I feel like Texas is the best fit for me,” Bell said. “I feel like I can get developed there.”
Texas has certainly been developing players at an elite level in recent years. Texas had 11 players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, and had 14 players invited to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, second nationally and tied for first in the SEC (Georgia). What makes those figures even more impressive for Sarkisian and his staff is this figure: eight of those 25 players signed with the Texas program when Tom Herman was head honcho for the Horns. Notable players from that group include T’Vondre Sweat and Jahdae Barron, who each won national awards in their final years in burnt orange.
Bell is not the only quarterback to recognize the elite development that occurs on the 40 Acres. 2024 four star Trey Owens and 2025 four star KJ Lacey have recently taken their talent to Texas, hoping to develop into top tier quarterbacks. However, Bell has a desire to be the best, a mentality that will be necessary to secure playing time at Texas.
“There’s always room for improvement, and I am always trying to prove that I am the best quarterback in the class,” Bell said. “Not everybody has me as No. 1 but in my heart that’s what I believe so every time I come out here I try to prove that.”
Bell’s mentality matches his arm talent, and it will certainly do him favors as he looks to increase his rank among recruiting services and prove he is the best quarterback in his class.
At the end of the day, Bell received an invitation to attend the Elite 11 Finals over the summer, along with Henderson. Bell will be the second consecutive Texas commit to attend the Elite 11 Finals after Lacey attended the event last summer, where he finished fifth in the final standings.
