Nebraska football recruiting: Five-star QB Dylan Raiola’s fit with Matt Rhule, Huskers earns praise
The elite signal-caller is heading to a good spot to display his talent.
Five-star Nebraska quarterback signee Dylan Raiola will end the 2024 cycle as the nation’s second-ranked quarterback after 247Sports released its final rankings for the class on Monday. And national recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna said on the College Football Recruiting Show that he loved the way Raiola’s game fit in Lincoln.
“Best pure passer in this class, I think that’s pretty safe to say; 11-2 at Buford, the competition level kinda upped this year,” Petagna said. “Went 65% completion rate, 34 touchdowns, one interception, I love the way he fit in that offense. I think that’s what they need to do at Nebraska in Lincoln as well. Here’s the other thing: The flip side of that, four different programs in four years. He needs some continuity, I think he’s going to have to sit a year as well. That’s going to benefit Dylan Raiola. Love the fit with Nebraska and Matt Rhule.”
Raiola’s ranking slipped ever-so-slightly, with him dropping from the No. 2 overall player to the No. 7 overall player, which also saw him move from the top-ranked quarterback to the No. 2 spot, behind Florida signee DJ Lagway, the No. 3 overall player. Only one other quarterback, recent Ohio State get Julian Sayin, grabbed a five-star ranking.
Raiola arrives in Lincoln as Nebraska royalty, after his father, Dominic Raiola, earned consensus All-America honors and won the Rimington Award, which goes to the nation’s best center, in 2000. Nebraska retired his jersey.
But Dylan will take snaps rather than give them after throwing for 2,819 yards as a senior this season. And he joins a Nebraska offense that ranked 123rd nationally in putting up just 18 points per game. Like Petagna said, the setup is there to allow him to grow into his role over the next year or so; he likely won’t be burdened with improving things right away. And when he hits the field, he’ll do so with a nice collection of weapons the Cornhuskers have been able to assemble, including another 2024 blue-chip get in tight end prospect Carter Nelson, the No. 49 overall player in the class.
“Ballyhooed quarterback with an NFL-caliber arm and an imposing frame that has what it takes to be the centerpiece of an offense,” wrote 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins in his scouting report on Raiola. “Owns one of the best, if not the best, deep balls in the cycle and can touch all different corners of the field. Lethal when operating off of play-action and has taken valuable snaps under center. Moves better than expected for someone that’s hovering around 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, and will frequently buy himself time as the pocket collapses. Ability to drop the elbow and use baseball-like angles to work around traffic is certainly tantalizing, but normal release is just as impressive as he mirrors his upper and lower halves together with a fluid, repeatable motion. Can generate tons of velocity, but has also shown that he can change speeds and layer the football. Tossed just one interception on 250 pass attempts as a senior, but got a little too conservative at times, which led to deflating sacks.
“From a pure talent standpoint, should be viewed as a blue-chip pocket passer that can be a true difference-maker on Saturdays and potentially even Sundays. However, has to block out the noise and buy into the process while remaining self-confident in his abilities after attending four different high schools in three years. Tape frequently shows someone that’s ahead of the curve, but will likely need some time to get adjusted to the speed of the college game. Still, has the size and tools to play early at the next level, especially if he quickly progresses as a full-field reader.”
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