Two years ago when five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola signed his letter of intent with Matt Rhule and Nebraska, it was seen as a rebirth for the program. After the chaos of the Scott Frost years that included the transfer of four-year starting QB Adrian Martinez…followed by a roller coaster ride with Jeff Sims, Chubby Purdy and others taking snaps, Raiola’s arrival was seen not only as a recruiting coup, but a badly needed stabilizing moment.
And make no mistake, it worked. It was good for both the Huskers program and for the incoming freshman, who was the starter from Day One. A good example is the two games Nebraska played against Colorado in 2023 and 2024. The first year, while Raiola was still in high school in Georgia, Sims turned the ball over four times in Boulder and Buffs, who would go on to finish 4-8, thumped Nebraska 36-14. The following year, with the true freshman Raiola under center, Colorado brought a team that would end up going 9-4 into Lincoln and got waxed 28-10. In that game, Raiola and the Husker offense were turnover free.
After a long postseason drought, Nebraska went to bowl games in both of the season’s Raiola was the starter, although he’ll be sitting out this year’s Las Vegas Bowl game against Utah while he heals from a broken fibula.
Raiola Looking for Another New Home
And while he plans his next destination.
After those two good seasons, Raiola is moving on, entering the transfer portal, presumably in an effort to A) make more NIL money and/or B) take a better shot at making the College Football Playoff. On point A, Nebraska might be able to be competitive. On point B, probably not yet in the rugged Big Ten conference. There may be other reasons as well, but thus far, nothing has been stated publicly.
Since he entered high school, Raiola hasn’t spent more than two seasons in any one place. Nebraska was the third college program he committed to before leaving high school.
Raiola will have his pick of several top programs where he could be a difference maker under center. Pretty much a standard drop back passer who models his game after Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, Raiola will fit at a place where the offensive line play is rock solid, and they can run the ball and protect the passer in the pocket. How many of those programs need a veteran signal caller? Might not be a perfect fit out there, but there will be suitors.
Meanwhile, at Nebraska, they’ll be looking for another pair of good feet to go with a strong arm.
Current starter TJ Lateef, a true freshman this year, and Purdue transfer Marcus Davila are returning, but at least one reinforcement will be brought in via the portal.
When Rhule brought in Dana Holgersen as the Offensive Coordinator two thirds of the way through the 2024 season, Raiola’s stats did get better. Holgersen, a veteran former Head Coach and OC, brought some additional clarity and stability to the offense. Yet even while they seemed to click okay, something was always just a little bit off. Something important was still missing.
Nebraska Needs a QB That Can Run the Ball, Too
The quarterback run game.
Raiola’s game doesn’t offer any of that element, yet it’s something Holgersen’s offenses have always had. From the coach’s days running the up-tempo “Air Raid” offense to the slightly more conventual “RPO” style attack, the QB has always had to be a run threat. And historically, Nebraska’s best QB’s have been able to beat opponents with their feet and not just their arms. They’re going to need that moving forward.
This is not to say that Holgersen or Rhule want to or need to bring back the Air Raid. That’s not a recipe for success in the ground and pound Big Ten. But the Run-Pass Option attack has been used successfully in the B1G by some of the conference’s best teams, and if Nebraska is going to return to the upper echelon of the conference, they’ll have to not only get better at the line of scrimmage, but the rushing attack can’t just involve handoffs to whomever takes over for NFL-bound Emmett Johnson.
Many around Husker Nation see Raiola’s departure as a chance to get the QB run game back into Nebraska’s arsenal. So while his arrival two years ago was a win-win for both parties, so could be his departure.
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