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Texas, Steve Sarkisian continue trend of adding elite quarterbacks in Austin

On3 imageby: Justin Wells12/03/25

It started with Quinn Ewers. Then it was nabbing Arch Manning. Up next is five-star Dia Bell. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound signal-caller from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) continues the trend of Texas securing elite, premier quarterbacks under Sarkisian’s watch.

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Bell, who will enroll early in Austin in January, has been locked into his Texas pledge over 1.5 years. He even used an Uber from Dallas to Austin two summers ago when his flight to Texas was canceled. He was so worried he’d miss his opportunity to throw for Sarkisian, his family grabbed an Uber at 11pm at night.

It’s because Bell sees what Sark, AJ Milwee, and the offensive staff can do with an elite quarterback. Ewers was the first one. The Southlake (Texas) Carroll product and Miami Dolphins backup transferred from Ohio State to Texas after his first semester in Columbus. He went on to lead Texas to back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinals, a Big 12 title, and SEC Conference Championship appearance.

“(Bell) is a natural passer of the football,” Sarkisian said today. “He has a great feel for the game. The other thing we really love about him is his competitive spirit.”

Next was Manning. One of the most highly publicized recruitments in 30 years, the New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman five-star chose Texas over Georgia and Alabama. Partly because he actually grew up watching the Longhorns, and partly because Sark and Milwee were there to develop the younger Manning QB.

“(Bell) is not coming here just to sit back and wait his turn,” said Sarkisian. “He’s coming here to work his tail off and he’s going to try to beat the next guy out and beat the next guy out. At the same time, he’ll support those guys, and I think that’s why he was so attractive to us in this recruiting process because of his mental makeup of what he believes in, what he stands for, to go along with the physical attributes that he has.”

After watching those two sling the rock, Bell was convinced Austin was his home.

“Our class is a really tight group,” said Bell. “We were working hard on some of the other guys this visit, trying to show them why Texas is the place to be. Coach Sark was just telling me how excited he is for this upcoming season and the future of the program.”

Bell is the third five-star QB to sign with Sarkisian in Austin.

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