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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arch Manning heir apparent, Texas QB commit Dia Bell named MVP of entire Elite 11 event
Dia Bell will probably be the heir apparent to Arch Manning in a couple of years. The five-star has been committed to Texas for over a year. Now, the 2026 blue chip quarterback has a major feather in his cap. Bell has been named the overall MVP of the prestigious Elite 11 QB event in Los Angeles. Bell was the MVP of Day 1 of the event and had a strong showing on Day 2. His performance on Day 3 clinched the title, something Elite 11 attendee Vince Young couldn't do. Of the eleven Texas quarterbacks to be invited to the event, Bell is the first to win the overall MVP. Bell is also the son of former NBA star Raja Bell. The event, which includes quarterbacks committed to the likes of Tennessee, Florida, Penn State, Texas A&M and Washington, is the biggest camp of the recruiting season for quarterbacks. Past MVPs include Clemson's Cade Klubnik, Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields, Tua Tagovailoa, Matthew Stafford. According to On3, Bell finished 18 of 23 passing for four touchdowns during the 7v7 portion of Day 3 on Thursday. 'Dia Bell lived up to his status as On3's highest rated Elite 11 Finalist, stacking three impressive days of work in Los Angeles. The Texas commit showed the most refined and consistent mechanics we saw throughout the week. Bell was the On3 MVP on Day 1, standing out during drill work. He was a Top Performer on Day 2, flashing excellent footwork in his drops from under center. On Day 3, Bell pitched a clean sheet in 7-on-7, going 18 of 23 for 4 touchdowns, with zero interceptions or sacks. The South Florida native's arm talent, level of refined skill, and track record against top competition give him the highest floor of any quarterback in the 2026 cycle.' — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Bell, who was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, had his 2024 season cut short due to a serious leg injury in Florida's state playoffs. But his performance at Elite 11 should put to rest any fears that the injury would impact Bell's longterm outlook. During his junior year at American Heritage High School, the 6-foot-2 QB threw for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns, completing 70.6% of his passes. Bell is the No. 2 ranked QB in the 2026 recruiting class according to On3's Industry Composite Rankings. 'The Elite 11 is a huge thing for quarterbacks, so it is an honor for me to be in the Finals 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 event was always a goal for me. Being invited and being able to compete means a lot. You want to be a top guy, and this is where you show it.' - Bell told On3's Chad Simmons Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire. Advertisement This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Arch Manning heir apparent Dia Bell named MVP of entire Elite 11 event
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
New No. 1! Texas commit Dia Bell now top QB in 2026 recruiting class
There's a new No. 1 QB in the 2026 recruiting class and it is none other than Texas Longhorns commit Dia Bell. The probable Arch Manning heir apparent has moved up the rankings thanks to a stellar summer highlighted by being named MVP of the Elite 11 camp. Rivals has gone through a complete re-ranking of the top 300 2026 prospects. The Fort Lauderdale, FL signal caller is now the No. 2 player overall in class behind Miami Hurricanes offensive tackle commit Jackson Cantwell. Bell jumped Georgia Bulldogs QB commit Jared Curtis in the QB Rankings. 'From an arm talent perspective, Texas commit Dia Bell is as good as anyone in the 2026 cycle. He's the definition of a natural thrower. His ability to manipulate the football and throw consistently catchable footballs from multiple arm angles is a treat to watch. He can dice up defenses on Friday evenings and makes special throws. He's someone that has tons of upside especially as he develops and fills out his frame down the line.' -- Rivals scout Keegan Pope The five-star has been committed to Texas for over a year. He becomes the fourth Longhorns QB commit since the mid 1990s to be ranked as either the No. 1 or No. 2 overall prospect in the nation. The others were Chris Simms (1999), Vince Young (2002) and Arch Manning (2023). Bell, who was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, had his 2024 season cut short due to a serious leg injury in Florida's state playoffs. But his performance at Elite 11 should put to rest any fears that the injury would impact Bell's longterm outlook. Advertisement During his junior year at American Heritage High School, the 6-foot-2 QB threw for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns, completing 70.6% of his passes. Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire. This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns commit Dia Bell now ranked as No. 1 QB in 2026 class
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
New No. 1! Texas commit Dia Bell now top QB in 2026 recruiting class
There's a new No. 1 QB in the 2026 recruiting class and it is none other than Texas Longhorns commit Dia Bell. The probable Arch Manning heir apparent has moved up the rankings thanks to a stellar summer highlighted by being named MVP of the Elite 11 camp. Rivals has gone through a complete re-ranking of the top 300 2026 prospects. The Fort Lauderdale, FL signal caller is now the No. 2 player overall in class behind Miami Hurricanes offensive tackle commit Jackson Cantwell. Bell jumped Georgia Bulldogs QB commit Jared Curtis in the QB Rankings. 'From an arm talent perspective, Texas commit Dia Bell is as good as anyone in the 2026 cycle. He's the definition of a natural thrower. His ability to manipulate the football and throw consistently catchable footballs from multiple arm angles is a treat to watch. He can dice up defenses on Friday evenings and makes special throws. He's someone that has tons of upside especially as he develops and fills out his frame down the line.' -- Rivals scout Keegan Pope The five-star has been committed to Texas for over a year. He becomes the fourth Longhorns QB commit since the mid 1990s to be ranked as either the No. 1 or No. 2 overall prospect in the nation. The others were Chris Simms (1999), Vince Young (2002) and Arch Manning (2023). Bell, who was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, had his 2024 season cut short due to a serious leg injury in Florida's state playoffs. But his performance at Elite 11 should put to rest any fears that the injury would impact Bell's longterm outlook. During his junior year at American Heritage High School, the 6-foot-2 QB threw for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns, completing 70.6% of his passes. Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.
USA Today
19-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Arch Manning heir apparent, Texas QB commit Dia Bell named MVP of entire Elite 11 event
Arch Manning heir apparent, Texas QB commit Dia Bell named MVP of entire Elite 11 event Dia Bell will probably be the heir apparent to Arch Manning in a couple of years. The five-star has been committed to Texas for over a year. Now, the 2026 blue chip quarterback has a major feather in his cap. Bell has been named the overall MVP of the prestigious Elite 11 QB event in Los Angeles. Bell was the MVP of Day 1 of the event and had a strong showing on Day 2. His performance on Day 3 clinched the title, something Elite 11 attendee Vince Young couldn't do. Of the eleven Texas quarterbacks to be invited to the event, Bell is the first to win the overall MVP. The event, which includes quarterbacks committed to the likes of Tennessee, Florida, Penn State, Texas A&M and Washington, is the biggest camp of the recruiting season for quarterbacks. Past MVPs include Clemson's Cade Klubnik, Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields, Tua Tagovailoa, Matthew Stafford. According to On3, Bell finished 18 of 23 passing for four touchdowns during the 7v7 portion of Day 3 on Thursday. 'Dia Bell lived up to his status as On3's highest rated Elite 11 Finalist, stacking three impressive days of work in Los Angeles. The Texas commit showed the most refined and consistent mechanics we saw throughout the week. Bell was the On3 MVP on Day 1, standing out during drill work. He was a Top Performer on Day 2, flashing excellent footwork in his drops from under center. On Day 3, Bell pitched a clean sheet in 7-on-7, going 18 of 23 for 4 touchdowns, with zero interceptions or sacks. The South Florida native's arm talent, level of refined skill, and track record against top competition give him the highest floor of any quarterback in the 2026 cycle.' — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Bell, who was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, had his 2024 season cut short due to a serious leg injury in Florida's state playoffs. But his performance at Elite 11 should put to rest any fears that the injury would impact Bell's longterm outlook. During his junior year at American Heritage High School, the 6-foot-2 QB threw for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns, completing 70.6% of his passes. Bell is the No. 2 ranked QB in the 2026 recruiting class according to On3's Industry Composite Rankings. 'The Elite 11 is a huge thing for quarterbacks, so it is an honor for me to be in the Finals 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 event was always a goal for me. Being invited and being able to compete means a lot. You want to be a top guy, and this is where you show it.' - Bell told On3's Chad Simmons Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas Longhorns QB commit, probable Arch Manning replacement, wins Day 1 MVP at Elite 11
Texas Longhorns QB commit, probable Arch Manning replacement, wins Day 1 MVP at Elite 11 Arch Manning's probable heir apparent is making a name for himself this week in Los Angeles. Texas Longhorns quarterback commit Dia Bell has shined at the Elite 11 Tuesday. Bell was named the MVP of Day 1 of the nation's premier quarterback camp. Since 1999, the Elite 11 has launched several NFL careers, including Andrew Luck and Trevor Lawrence. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida five-star showed off his strong arm on Tuesday for scouts and fans at Mira Costa High School in LA. He displayed a quick release and confident motion that makes his throws look effortless. Bell, who was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, currently sits in first place at the event, after having the best day of all of the QBs in the camp. The son of former NBA shooting guard Raja Bell battled Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon throughout Day 1, but scouts felt Bell had better zip on his throws to go along with elite accuracy. "Throughout the night, the most consistent for my money was Bell. He rarely missed a throw and looked smooth in his footwork and delivery snap after snap after snap. He also showed off an even more elite arm talent than we initially anticipated, and constantly placed the ball in the right windows with impressive zip and accuracy." - Matt Galatzan of SI The hype around the future Texas QB continues to grow. Bell is the No. 2 ranked QB in the 2026 recruiting class according to On3's Industry Composite Rankings. The five-star prospect wowed onlookers with fluid mechanics and pinpoint accuracy. His ability to deliver precise throws across all levels of the field, particularly near the goal line, left scouts and analysts impressed. "Texas commit (Dia Bell) was outstanding all night, threw beautiful passes to every level of the field and spun it as well as anyone. As the night wore on, Bell's arm didn't tire at all, he kept great pace on all his passes and looked like a five-star contender. Whether it was during a station near the goal line or throwing the deep ball to the outside, Bell was on the money on almost every throw and looked really comfortable doing it." - Adam Gorney of During his junior year at American Heritage High School, the 6-foot-2 QB threw for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns, completing 70.6% of his passes. While his production was impressive, his smooth mechanics and feel for the game have evaluators believing Bell might be the most complete quarterback in the class. 'Dia Bell hasn't played a whole lot of football. But when he has been playing, Raja Bell's kid has been absolutely throwing darts. Can he do it? I mean, this is a guy that people compare to Jordan Love - Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love, not necessarily Utah State Jordan Love.' - RJ Young on Adapt & Respond podcast Bell's season was cut short due to a serious leg injury during Florida's state playoffs, where he had to be carted off the field. But his performance at Elite 11 should put to rest any fears that the injury would impact Bell's longterm outlook. 'The Elite 11 is a huge thing for quarterbacks, so it is an honor for me to be in the Finals 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 event was always a goal for me. Being invited and being able to compete means a lot. You want to be a top guy, and this is where you show it.' - Bell told On3's Chad Simmons Day 2 will feature a simulated pro day that will have each quarterback going through the same 20-throw script. Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.
