Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola Ready to Lead the Charge
In a move that’s been eagerly anticipated by Cornhuskers fans, Nebraska has named true freshman Dylan Raiola as its starting quarterback for the season opener against UTEP on August 31. Raiola, the top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2024, has been impressing coaches and teammates alike with his leadership and talent.
Raiola’s journey to becoming the starting quarterback was not without its twists and turns. He initially committed to Ohio State before decommitting and picking Georgia. However, he ultimately flipped to Nebraska in December, citing a strong connection with the coaching staff and a sense of belonging in Lincoln.
The 18-year-old quarterback has already made a strong impression on the field, throwing for 239 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-22 passing in the spring game. His momentum continued into fall camp, with quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas singling out his leadership and confidence.
“I think there’s a confidence that you hear in tone of voice and being vocal,” Thomas said. “Maybe somebody runs the wrong route, you let ’em know. Or just the confidence of maybe a protection call or, hey, let’s challenge [starting center] Ben Scott on a call, ‘Hey, this is what I see. I want to do this.'”
Raiola’s father, Dominic, is a Nebraska legend, having won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center in 1999 and going on to play 14 seasons in the NFL. The younger Raiola is eager to make his own mark on the program and lead the Cornhuskers back to the glory days.
Nebraska has not finished the season ranked in the AP Poll since 2012, a span that includes the disastrous tenures of Mike Riley and Scott Frost. However, hope remains that head coach Matt Rhule, a former NFL head coach who previously received praise for resuscitating Baylor, can change the program’s fortunes.
The Huskers are heavily favored for the UTEP game but will face a tougher test in Week 2 against Colorado. After that, it’s Northern Iowa before a very different Big Ten slate, with ranked opponents currently consisting of Ohio State, USC, and Iowa.
