Steve Sarkisian and five-star QBs—it’s a classic pairing. The man who loves a spectacle is at it again, laying out the red carpet for his prized recruit. We’ve been here before; just ask Arch Manning. Texas spent $280k in a single weekend to acquire him. Now, it’s clear Sark gets what he wants. And this time, the headliner is American Heritage QB Dia Bell. But just when Texas thought they had him locked down, another SEC rival crashed the party.
Just as Steve Sarkisian began to relax, Alabama made a surprising entrance to shake things up. According to the latest report from Rivals, Alabama’s general manager, Courtney Morgan, has initiated contact with Dia Bell to explore the possibility of him considering a switch to the Crimson Tide. It appears that Bama is seriously pursuing him. Despite Dia Bell’s commitment to Texas, Alabama’s interest remains strong. Even with the recent recruitment of top quarterback Keelon Russell, Alabama is not willing to let Texas dominate the talent pool without a fight.
Can we really blame them? On3’s updated 2026 On300 now ranks the top prospect at number 5, after he earned his fifth star. Longhorns prized commit Bell joins Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga EDGE Carter Meadows as one of two new On3 five-stars. That’s a massive win for him. And it’s pretty clear why Bama is trying to recruit him.
Dia Bell, former NBA star Raja Bell’s talented son, lit up the 2024 season. He threw for 2,597 yards and 29 TDs to just 6 interceptions, completing 71% of his passes, while also rushing for 561 yards and 5 TDs, earning him Florida Gatorade Player of the Year. He’s 6-foot-3, 190, and a dual threat, making plays when it matters. Plus, he’s got that pro-level brain, reading defenses and dropping dimes. Basically, he’s a Sarkisian quarterback built in a lab.
Texas keeps stacking elite QB talent under Sark. He recruited Quinn Ewers, a 5-star, On3’s No. 2 prospect in 2021, from the transfer portal, and Arch Manning, the No. 3 prospect in 2023. Now he’s got Dia Bell, a pocket passer who prefers throwing deep to running. “You’ll regularly see him make reads from the pocket on film and deliver the ball with better timing than you often see from someone with a big arm at most any age,” On3’s Ian Boyd noted. But here’s the twist: teams like LSU and Ohio State are still in the hunt, and Dia Bell confirmed he’s still taking their calls.
Even more interesting, Bell’s keeping his options open, “in case anything goes sideways.” “I like to hear what they have to say,” Bell added. “… Make sure I keep in contact with those coaches.” That’s not exactly music to Steve Sarkisian’s ears. And on top of it all, another big Dawg is waiting in the wings, eyeing him closely.
Another SEC big Dawg trying hard to get Dia Bell’s commitment
Well, Bama isn’t alone in their high hopes for Dia Bell. Georgia is also refusing to back down in the battle for top 2026 quarterbacks. As the Bulldogs prepare for the possibility of missing out on Jared Curtis, the class’s top quarterback, they’re shifting their focus to Oklahoma’s Jaden O’Neal and Texas’ Dia Bell, as Steve Wiltfong noted.
Interestingly, Oregon has taken the lead in Curtis’ recruitment, but South Carolina remains a contender. However, Georgia’s staff isn’t waiting around—they’re making aggressive moves to secure a premier signal-caller.
Bringing Dia Bell to Athens won’t be easy. He’s already locked into a six-figure NIL deal with Leaf Trading Cards, and On3 projects his total NIL valuation at $558K. If Georgia wants to land him, they might have to loosen the purse strings. But let’s be real—missing out on a player like Bell wouldn’t be a smart move. And if we take 247Sports’ Tom Loy’s tweet into account: “Nike’s Next Ones took place over the weekend, and despite being banged up, Texas Top247 QB commit Dia Bell still came out and threw it at a very high level.” It’s clear Dia Bell is still out there proving himself and keeping his options open for interested programs.
With Gunner Stockton, Ryan Puglisi, and freshman Ryan Montgomery set to compete for Georgia’s starting job in 2025, the Bulldogs must secure a top-tier quarterback for the future. The question now is—how will Steve Sarkisian and his staff plan to keep their highly rated prospect in the fold?
The post Steve Sarkisian Faces Serious Threat in Top QB Dia Bell’s Recruitment as New Links to SEC Rivals Set to Stun Texas appeared first on EssentiallySports.
