Great news for Nebraska’s future: Dylan Raiola has made a decision!
For the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Monday was the finest day in a long time.
The success or failure of Nebraska’s 2024 quarterback recruiting class hinges on their capacity to land Dylan Raiola, a former Georgia star and five-star. The Cornhuskers haven’t had much to celebrate since 2016.
Raiola has been the most highly regarded recruit by the program since ESPN started keeping tabs on high school athletes.
In his second offseason leading the Cornhuskers, head coach Matt Rhule saw a need to upgrade the quarterback position following a disappointing 2023 campaign.
In 12 games, the quarterbacks—Jeffrey Sims, a transfer from Georgia Tech, Heinrich Haarberg, and Chubba Purdy—were 136 for 261 (52.1%), accounted for 1,631 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.
While they placed 123rd in scoring, Nebraska’s defense was top-20 (18.2 points per game).
The Cornhuskers’ pitch resounds in Raiola’s Dr. Seuss-like pronouncement of his choice to reject Georgia in favor of Nebraska.
“No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine, but a quarterback, with an even grander ambition unseen,” wrote him.
With as much success as Georgia has had in recent years, Raiola undoubtedly would have been ignored had he continued with the Bulldogs. For example, Georgia’s quarterback Carson Beck was great this year, ranking sixth in passing with 3,738 yards, but he didn’t get much credit since the Bulldogs couldn’t repeat their previous two successful seasons.
Put another way, the Bulldogs’ 12-1 record this season under Beck was a letdown for the program. On the other side, Nebraska might throw a parade for the football team if Raiola leads it to the same record.
The Cornhuskers have struggled since joining the Big Ten in 2011, earning only one 10-win season, and haven’t been in a bowl game since 2016.
With Raiola’s decision, there should be hope in Lincoln that might eventually change.
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