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Texas QB Commit Dia Bell Aiming For Huge Accomplishment
Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Texas Longhorns commit Dia Bell is tabbed as the third-best quarterback in the Class of 2026, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. At this week’s Elite 11 Finals, Arch Manning's possible successor is out to prove he’s better than Jared Curtis and Faizon Brandon, who have respectively pledged to Georgia and Tennessee.

“The Elite 11 is a huge thing for quarterbacks, so it is an honor for me to be in the Finals this week,” Bell told On3’s Chad Simmons earlier this week. “I have been going to camps since I was in middle school, trying to get my name out there and being in this even was always a goal for me.

“As a recruit, you want to be a top guy, so being in the Elite 11 Finals means I get to compete with the best. Being invited and being able to compete means a lot.”

247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins likens Bell to Oregon’s Dante Moore. Bell was Florida’s Gatorade Player of the Year last season after leading American Heritage to a 9-2 mark. He passed for 2,597 yards, 29 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Bell also rushed for 561 yards and five scores.

Other Texas quarterbacks to have taken part in the Elite 11 include Vince Young (2001), Jevan Snead (2005), Garrett Gilbert (2008), Jerrod Heard (2013), Shane Buechele (2015), Sam Ehlinger (2016), Hudson Card (2019), Maalik Murphy (2021), and K.J. Lacey (2024). Quinn Ewers, who operated the Longhorns’ offense the past two seasons, also had a spot in the Elite 11 in 2021, but first headed to Ohio State.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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