Bell was on campus and attended the first practice of spring ball for the Longhorns this morning.

It is certainly worth mentioning that Dia is the son of former NBA All-Defensive honoree Raja Bell who spent 12 seasons in the Association.

With 25 offers under his belt now, Bell is touted as one of the most sought after recruits at the quarterback position in the 2026 class.

When Texas offensive line coach Kyle Flood stopped by John F. Kennedy High in Cedar Rapids, Ia. in January it went without any fanfare. 

That's because the name Nick Brooks was just a very talented prospect in the 2025 class that Texas offered March 1, 2023.

Brooks, 6-7 and 345 pounds, had not been on campus and was seen as a true long shot. Brooks then committed to Iowa the in early September before backing off that pledge November 7. At the time, Georgia was considered the main competition. And while the Bulldogs remain the in the top 2 with Iowa, Texas has officially entered the race. 

Brooks told OnTexasFootball Tuesday afternoon that he has two visits planned to Texas.

"I'm going to visit Texas in April," Brooks told OTF. That visit is scheduled for the Spring Game April 20. 

That will be the first of two visits with an official visit in June very likely.

"I have an official visit scheduled to Texas, but I think I have to change it to another date."

Texas was looking to lock in the June 21-23 visit weekend, but that is when Brooks is scheduled to be at Iowa. With Georgia scheduled for May 31-June 2, that leaves June 14-16 as the likely date for the Texas official visit. 

The one-time Iowa pledge currently sports 31 offers. The offer list includes SEC teams Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Mississippi State and South Carolina. 

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Committee proposed three new rules for the upcoming 2024 season – with helmet communication being the No. 1 talking point of the bunch.

During the post-practice press conference, Sarkisian mentioned how that rule change impacted the first spring practice window with a look ahead to how it might trickle down to the field in the fall.

"A little different for Quinn and I this year is my ability to talk to him through the mic," Sarkisian said. "We were practicing that today. Having two years of experience and working together and now having that dialogue through the headset is going to be beneficial for us."

The change to helmet communication has yet to be approved, however Sarkisian says he is preparing for the fall as if it will be green-lit. The rules committee will meet April 18 for possible approval.

Sarkisian added Texas has been working with the NCAA and the SEC to get hands on helmet communication in the spring.

For Sarkisian, experience with calling in plays through the headset at the NFL level allows for this transition to occur a bit smoother. While there is a learning curve for Ewers to overcome with the headset, Sarkisian says it is a two-way road when it comes to getting him up to speed.

"I think it is just hearing (the call) as opposed to the signals. I still think he is going to look towards the sideline, yet hearing the call and communicating that with the pertinent information needed. I think the challenge for me is how much information is quality, good information and when does it cross the threshold of too much where it is a little paralysis by analysis."

Sarkisian was the playcaller for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017-18 where he was responsible for the play call communication getting to Matt Ryan and the offense. Of course there will be months of prep leading up to the fall with Ewers and Sarkisian through the helmet, but according to the Texas Head Coach, the two got off to a strong start.

"I thought it felt really comfortable for him today in his first time out doing it," Sarkisian said.

For folks who lean one way or the other when it comes to tempo with the helmet communication, Sarkisan says he believes it will enable offensive coordinators to do both.

"I think you can do both, quite frankly," Sarkisian said. "It is a lot easier to say five words than signal five words, but yet you can give more information and have real dialogue to speed up and slow down. Hopefully I can give him some more information that allows him to play faster within plays as well."

Some random notes and thoughts from the 30 minute media viewing window...

1. The talent level at Texas is that of a program with a consistent chance to be a contender. A lot of likely and potential future NFL draft picks on the field today, spread in all classes. 

2. Ryan Wingo is a dude. That's all. The rest will play out. 

3. Sarkisian really praised Trey Moore in post practice presser. More isn't the guy that wows physically on first look, but he has compact twitch and power in his frame. Much stronger in lower body than a year ago playing at UTSA.

4. Just good to see Colton Vasek on the field again. Looks good physically. Tough for a young guy that was turning some heads early on to be shut down for nearly an entire year. 

5. Jaray Bledsoe's 293-295 pounds is legit. Sark mentioned him after practice in PC.

6. Quinn Ewers looks like a stronger guy. Behind the neck, in the legs. Confident third year starting QB was his look throwing the ball today.

7. Terrance Brooks is really 209 pounds, as listed. Very thick lower body for a corner. He's just about physically tapped out. 

8. Malik Muhammad looks like streamlined second year corner. Very, very good natural build for a corner. He's the guy that is showing Kobe Black the ropes. 

9. Christian Clark has the lower body of an NFL vet at the RB position. That dude is a very powerfully put together 5-11, 210

10. Cedric Baxter Jr. is the same weight as last year - 218. But it's a different 218 now. More cut in upper body, and looks stronger on a longer RB frame.

11. Malik Agbo was third team left guard. Obviously, the jumbo package TE. 

12. Brandon Baker was third team RT ... Daniel Cruz third team center.

13. Kelvin Banks looks like a 1st or 2nd team All-American.

14. Trevor Goosby 2nd at LT with Jaydon Chatman 3rd.

15. If Amari Niblack doesn't run low 4.5 at the NFL Combine I will be surprised. 

16. Jelani McDonald is among the best looking pound for pound athletes in the program, and he's a safety. Looks tremendous physically, especially at that spot. 

17. Savion Red may be closer to 230 than 240, but he's in the area code. 

18. Trey Owens showed quick feet than one would think. Quicker moving feet vs. Maalik Murphy. 

19. Payton Kirkland on the field going through full workout at 4th team left guard. 

20. Freddie Dubose was not going through full workout. 

21. Sydir Mitchell is 370-372. 

22. Jahdae Barron is carrying very good weight. 

23. Jordan Washington is a keeper at TE. All reported measeurables are legit. And he has the flexibility to come off a three-point stance with winning leverage. 

24. T'Vondre Sweat and Johnathan Brooks were on hand. NIL good!

25. DJ Campbell definitely looks 10-12 pounds lighter. Neto Umeozulu and DJ Campbell the quickest/most explosive movers at guard. 

26. I stand by what I have said on the OnTexasFootball YouTube channel... Texas should be a batter team in 2024. Does that mean more W's with the move to the SEC? Can't say that. But a spring portal addition or two away from solidifying the Horns as a top 4 team preseason. 

Gerry and Bobby are going live on YouTube as I write this (9:45 a.m.) but I have some notes I wanted to get over to the site.

I spent a lot of time watching the front seven of the defense with a number of new faces and additions to the field. But here is the full run down of tidbits from day one.

*** 

OFFENSE

Quinn Ewers broke the team out and led the last bit of the opening stretching period.

First Team Offense:

• QB – Quinn Ewers
• RB – CJ Baxter
• WR – Johntay Cook
• WR – Isaiah Bond
• Slot WR – DeAndre Moore
• TE – Gunnar Helm
• LT – Kelvin Banks
• LG – Hayden Conner
• C – Jake Majors
• RG – DJ Campbell
• RT – Cam Williams

No true surprises here. DeAndre Moore was also the first Longhorn on the field this morning and looked completely bought in on the field today. 

RB Jaydon Blue saw time with the first team as well. Just mixed in with Baxter at times.

Second Team Offense:

• QB – Arch Manning
• RB – Jaydon Blue / Savion Red
• WR – Matthew Golden
• WR – Ryan Niblett
• WR – Ryan Wingo
• TE – Amari Niblack
• LT – Trevor Goosby 
• LG – Neto Umeozulu
• C – Connor Robertson
• RG – Cole Hutson
• RT – Andre Cojoe

Five-star freshman Brandon Baker began on the third unit, as did Daniel Cruz. This is bound to change as the freshmen across the field were littered in the backhalf of drill lines all morning. Reminder that it is their first practice in college, this will take time.

RB Savion Red did not looked 240 pounds to me. Credit to him I suppose for carrying it well.

Freshman TE Jordan Washington looked tremendous at his 240-pound designation. He was smooth, he was physical in pad blocking drills. He looked like he has a very bright future for Jeff Banks.

There is something about DeAndre Moore that will be difficult to keep off the field. He is tremendously smooth in and out of cuts in his routes. Going back to freshman WR Ryan Wingo, he looks the absolute part. Incredibly bright future.

The Quarterbacks looked good. Ewers, Manning and Owens were all accurate throwing the ball from what I was able to see. Ewers had a very good passing day when going deep. He connected with Isaiah Bond and Ryan Niblett on sluggo routes.

I saw some passes hit the ground today, but none were the result of errant throws. A number of younger wide receivers were seen doing pushups after routes if that gives you any inclination as to why that was the case. (Drops)

Malik Agbo was your third team left guard.

DEFENSE

First Team:

• EDGE – Barryn Sorrell
• DT – Alfred Collins
• NT – Vernon Broughton
• EDGE – Ethan Burke
• LB – Anthony Hill Jr.
• LB – David Gbenda
• nCB – Jahdae Barron
• CB – Malik Muhammad
• CB – Terrance Brooks
• S – Michael Taaffe
• S – Derek Williams

The second team unit was a bit of a hodge podge, but I did see Trey Moore with that unit to begin. 

Sydir Mitchell did not have the best start to practice. He was asked to take a lap at the beginning of practice from what I noticed. Kenny Baker is asking a lot of him, he was showing some great intensity at the beginning of practice. Taioalii Savea and Alex January were two others I watched a good bit.

Only seven true interior defensive linemen today: Collins, Broughton, Savea, Bryant, Bledsoe, January, and Mitchell.

As for the EDGE spot, a few things: First, Trey Moore won't shock anyone with his physical size. He is a good looking prospect, but he won't 'Wow' anyone when he steps into a room. 

To the two most impressive looking prospects on the EDGE, that goes to Colton Vasek who was back in pads for the first time in a while. I was very encouraged from what I saw from Vasek today. Early Enrollee Zina Umeozulu certainly is an impressive looking prospect as well. He has a perfect build for the edge position.

As for Colin Simmons, his body looks tremendous. In the drills that the EDGE worked in moves off the snap, Simmons was smooth and quick, as you would expect.

Man, no one on this roster is more physically impressive with the athleticism to back it up than Anthony Hill Jr. He looks like he could play on Sundays immediately.

You can really tell Terrance Brooks added weight to his frame. He looks like an NFL DB.

I was really impressed with the movement of both Xavier Filsaime and Jelani McDonald at the safety position. Andrew Mukuba looks incredibly smooth in coverage skills.

Punt Return:

A whole slew of guys returning punts in practice today:

Johntay Cook and Isaiah Bond were the first out for the drills today. Following by Aaron Butler, Matthew Golden, Ryan Wingo and Parker Livingstone.

Misc.

The SEC had a camera crew that arrived prior to any of the local media and stuck around after. You can expect some cool footage from that later on.

The reigning Outland Award winner, T'Vondre Sweat, was also late to arrive for the practice. He watched on the sidelines.

Gerry Hamilton and Bobby Burton will go live reacting to what they saw on the field here shortly. Welcome to the beginning of the 2024 season!

The practice fields this morning at 7:55 am.

Four-star OT visiting Friday
OnTexasFootball 4-star offensive tackle and Texas offer Josh Petty (Roswell, Ga./Fellowship Christian School) will make his first visit to Texas on Friday. OTF spoke with a member of the Petty family Monday night to get the trip details. This first visit to Texas for the 6-5, 275 pound two sport star (wrestling) will be made without his family. He will make the trip with the California Power 7v7/organization. Should Petty and Texas decide to move things forward after the visit, an official with his parents will be in play. 

Georgia, Tennessee, Clemson and Auburn are near locks for summer OV’s. 

Josiah Sharma and Texas 
OnTexasFootball spoke with a person close to the recruitment of defensive lineman Josiah Sharma (Folsom, Calif./High) Monday night. 

Sharma, 6-5 and 300 pounds, will make an official visit to Utah June 14-16. He is also scheduled to make an OV to Washington in May. Alabama is a serious contender. A recent Georgia was eye opening for Sharma. 

Sharma and Texas remain in contact. An official visit hasn’t been set up as of the weekend. The source does believe Sharma wants to get on campus. 

Kiotti Armstrong and Javar Thomas
Jasper (Texas) High 4-star tight end Kiotti Armstrong is scheduled to make a visit to LSU this weekend. Headed into the spring visits, Texas A&M is slight leader over Texas according to a source close to the recruitment. LSU is working to truly get in the mix. Armstrong is making an official visit to Texas A&M June 14-16 and Texas June 21-23. Armstrong will make two unofficial visits to Texas A&M in March, and Texas one in April. 

Aldine (Texas) Nimitz Javar Thomas has Baylor and Houston working on official visits. As of the weekend, Texas has not set up an official visit with the 6-3, 195 pound rangy linebacker. 

Mills is a top target on the Texas board and was previously on campus for the January 20 junior day.

The four-star offensive lineman is expected back in Austin April 6 for the loaded Texas visitors weekend and has an official visit locked in for June 14-16.

Kyle Flood has done a tremendous job to date in this recruitment.

Fun Texas draft to start the show off for all of us on episode number one.