The Ohio State Buckeyes are making a strong push to flip one of the most coveted recruits in the country—five-star quarterback Dia Bell—from the Texas Longhorns, despite his current firm commitment to the program.
Bell, the cornerstone of Texas’ 2026 recruiting class, has become a major target for elite programs across the nation, including Ohio State. The standout from American Heritage High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is considered the No. 4 overall player in the country, the No. 2 quarterback, and the top recruit in the state of Florida, according to On3’s composite rankings.
Although Bell remains solidly pledged to head coach Steve Sarkisian and quarterbacks coach AJ Milwee in Austin, Ohio State has continued to press in their pursuit. According to 247Sports analyst Tom Loy, the Buckeyes have been “chipping away” at Bell’s commitment in hopes of flipping him.
“It’s going to take a lot to flip him from the Longhorns, but the Buckeyes continue to try and chip away,” Loy said.
For now, Texas appears to have a comfortable lead in Bell’s recruitment. Bell has not scheduled any additional official visits and has remained publicly loyal to Texas. In a March interview with On3, Bell made his stance clear: “As of right now, I don’t have any plans to visit anyone else besides the University of Texas.”
That commitment is rooted not only in Bell’s belief in the Texas program but also in the coaching staff. The 6-foot-2 quarterback has emphasized the importance of Sarkisian and Milwee remaining in their current roles. “My heart is in Texas, and it will be as long as coach Sark and coach Milwee are there,” Bell told 247Sports this spring.
Still, Bell is keeping communication lines open with other top programs as a precaution. “I still take their calls,” he said. “I like to hear what they have to say because, in the world we live in, college football coaches can end up anywhere the next day. So I have to make sure I keep in contact with those coaches in case anything goes sideways.”
Bell’s talent has made him one of the most sought-after prospects in the country. Last season, he threw for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns with just six interceptions, while also rushing for 561 yards and five additional scores. Despite a season-ending injury, he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida.
He has drawn interest from programs such as Alabama, LSU, Penn State, Miami, Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Ohio State, but his loyalty to Texas has remained unwavering—for now.
The battle for Bell may not be over, especially as powerhouse programs like Ohio State continue to test that commitment. But as of now, the Longhorns have their future quarterback locked in—and they intend to keep it that way.
