While Arch Manning is entering his first season as the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, it could also be his last, as the redshirt sophomore will be draft-eligible at the end of the year. Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is prepared for that possibility, as Texas already has the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 class, Dia Bell, committed to the program.
Bell started his last season of high school ball on a good note, leading his team to an epic comeback and solidifying himself as Manning’s likely successor. Take a look at how Bell led his team to victory.
Dia Bell Shines in Comeback, Emerging as Arch Manning’s Likely Successor
Bell is a five-star recruit in the 2026 class, rated by Rivals as the top quarterback in the country and the No. 2 overall player. He’s been committed to the Longhorns since June of 2024.
The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native just began his senior season at American Heritage High School, and his game against St. Joseph’s Prep aired nationally on ESPN2 Friday night.
Bell and American Heritage got off to a rough start. The young quarterback turned the ball over on his own 10-yard line and struggled to move the offense in the first half. The team fell behind 28-0, but the Texas commit staged a remarkable comeback in the second half.
Trailing 28-14 with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter, Bell threw a 30-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-15, cutting the deficit to seven. American Heritage added ten more points before the final whistle, completing a stunning 31-28 comeback victory.
#Texas QB commit Dia Bell leads American Heritage to an improbable comeback victory over St. Joseph’s Prep 31–28!
American Heritage trailed 28–0, and was down 28–14 with 6:55 left in the 4th quarter, scored 17 straight to win. @ontexasfootball pic.twitter.com/1QTu2l3Y8Y
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) August 23, 2025
Bell’s victory went viral, with SportsCenter Next even highlighting the future Longhorns’ performance down the stretch, adding to Bell’s already sky-high hype heading into his senior season.
If Manning does end up declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft after the season, Bell would likely be a strong consideration to start for Texas next year. It’s easy to see why, considering not only his talent but also the composure he displayed during last night’s comeback.
RELATED: Texas Five-Star QB Commit Dia Bell Outlines Upcoming Visits, Weighs Ongoing SEC Pursuit
The Longhorns have only ever started three true freshman quarterbacks in school history. Bobby Layne was the first to do it in 1944, and it wasn’t until 2016 that another did it with Shane Buechele, followed by Sam Ehlinger a season later in 2017.
Even if Manning doesn’t declare, Bell would benefit greatly from sitting for a season behind the former 2023 No. 1 overall recruit and learning Sarkisian’s offense before eventually taking over as the Longhorns’ starter in 2027.
Either way, based on his comeback for American Heritage last night, it’s clear that Texas football is in good hands at the quarterback position for the foreseeable future.
