With the addition of MJ Morris to the room, head coach Steve Sarkisian's quarterback room seems to be complete moving into the offseason. The Longhorns return star Arch Manning and freshman KJ Lacey, in addition to adding Morris and blue chip Dia Bell.
While the Texas Longhorns still can add to their 2026 roster with transfer portal entrants, head coach Steve Sarkisian's quarterback room seems to be complete with four players officially in the room. The exit of Matthew Caldwell saw the arrival of a new veteran depth piece, while the Longhorns also added a highly touted prospect to the roster in its premier recruiting class.
Here is a review of the Longhorns' quarterback depth chart following college football's transfer portal window:Dec 31, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning reaches with the ball for a first down while Michigan Wolverines defensive back Jordan Young attempts to tackle during the second half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images | Matt Pendleton-Imagn ImagesHe will enter the 2026 season as a Heisman Trophy favorite after putting together an impressive close to the 2025 campaign, achieving a QBR of over 90 in four of his last five games. In the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Michigan, the Louisiana native accumulated 376 total yards and four touchdowns, showing off his dual-threat capabilities., to prevent complications from a previous injury. While he is expected to be limited in offseason workouts, he should be healthy for spring practices, Brolley wrote, according to information from Texas football communication officials.KJ Lacey — entering redshirt freshman season Dec 6, 2024; Birmingham, AL, USA; Saraland's KJ Lacey thows a pass as he is pressured by a Parker defender at Protective Stadium in the 6A State Championship game. Parker defeated Saraland 28-17. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Lacey completed just one pass in his true freshman year at Texas as the third-string quarterback, but returns for his second season in a position to compete for the Longhorns' backup job.in late 2025. In a press conference leading up to the Citrus Bowl, Sarkisian emphasized Lacey's progression in his playmaking ability, throwing anticipation, accuracy, ability to use his legs and change in stature. "That's what you hope for in a developmental year from a quarterback perspective, of how far he's come in understanding of the offense, development of his body, leadership skills on the field," Sarkisian said about Lacey in the press conference. "So, all those things, I think he's on the right trajectory to become a really good player for us."Aug 30, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers quarterback MJ Morris prepares to throw the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Imagesto Texas in the portal, Morris arrives at his fourth school and will spend his fifth and final year of collegiate eligibility with the Longhorns. A three-star recruit in the 2022 class, Morris committed to NC State and played in nine games over two years with the Wolfpack. He then transferred to Maryland in 2024 before moving to Coastal Carolina in 2025. Morris has a 5-4 record as a starter and has totaled a 20:15 touchdown-interception ratio in his four seasons.during his tenure as the offensive coordinator at Alabama. Much like how Caldwell came in last season and earned the backup role, Morris should have the opportunity do so in an offseason competition with Lacey.Texas Longhorns five-star quarterback Dia Bell | @DiaBell3QB1 - X With both Lacey and Morris in the mix, Bell seems likely to redshirt his true freshman season in Austin. But don't overreact to that potential outcome. Bell comes to Sarkisian's program as a 2024 Florida Gatorade Player of the Year winner, an Elite 11 MVP and a top 10 recruit in the. He played in just two games as a senior before undergoing season-ending surgery, indicating why the Longhorns could choose to take a long-term approach with the blue-chip prospect, especially with Manning still in town. Even if he sees minimal on-the-field exposure this season, Bell is situated to be the future of the quarterback position for Sarkisian and company. "He's a football junkie. He's a sport junkie. He works out. He works his tail off. And so I just think his leadership, his personality, his ability, but probably most importantly, his competitive spirit, are things that we're definitely very excited about," SarkisianTyler Firtel is a sophomore Journalism major at the University of Texas at Austin. He has been writing for Texas Longhorns on SI since May 2025. Firtel also writes for The Daily Texan, currently serving as a senior sports reporter on the women’s basketball beat. Firtel is from Los Angeles, CA, splitting his professional sports fandom between the LA and San Diego teams.
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