Latest Dylan Raiola rumor could spell an ugly ending to his tenure at Nebraska
After entering the 2024 season with high hopes, the Nebraska Cornhuskers enter this week sitting 12th in the Big Ten with a 5-4 record. Recent one-score losses to UCLA and Ohio State have derailed the momentum Matt Rhule had after a strong start. The latest rumor going around is far more concerning, though. 5-star freshman […]
After entering the 2024 season with high hopes, the Nebraska Cornhuskers enter this week sitting 12th in the Big Ten with a 5-4 record. Recent one-score losses to UCLA and Ohio State have derailed the momentum Matt Rhule had after a strong start. The latest rumor going around is far more concerning, though.
5-star freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola was supposed to be the shining light for the now and the future. He's struggled, and even landing on Nebraska as a home was a difficult process in itself. He was previously committed to Georgia and Ohio State before following his uncle (the offensive line coach) and father (an alum) to Nebraska.
The latest rumor from Robin Washut of On3 explains that Raiola has "100 percent" been receiving recruiting calls about transferring and that Nebraska demoted offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield in favor of Dana Holgorsen to appease Raiola.
"I firmly believe that Nebraska is in my blood," Raiola said after committing to Nebraska. "It's a great opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself. Nebraska is a special place.”
"I think it'll mean a lot to bring it back," Raiola said of Nebraska's legacy. "Just because of the legacy of so many great players that have walked through that locker room that's been established there — to keep doing what they established. … Just the history of the Nebraska football program. It's not just another program."
However, despite his weird affinity for replicating Patrick Mahomes' look, mannerisms, and play style, Raiola hasn't been special. He's completed 64.7 percent of throws for 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has only two touchdowns and six picks in his last five games.
The move to promote Holgorsen comes only one week after the program hired him as an advisor. Washut has reported the change was made to keep Raiola in town.
"My two cents on it, if Matt Rhule didn't make a move, the odds of Dylan Raiola not being here next season go up dramatically,” Washut said. “So I think that they had to do something. Bringing in a coach of Dana Holgorsen's pedigree, his offensive background, the number of quarterbacks that he’s developed and taken to the next level, that is all of a sudden a much more appealing sales pitch for Dylan to stick it out here.”
“I can guarantee you with 100% certainty that he and his camp have received tampering phone calls,” Washut said. “People are checking in to see if he wants to explore his options. I don’t know if they made this move just to appease Dylan, but maximizing Dylan Raiola is at the forefront of why Matt Rhule decided now is the time to do something.”
The constant transferring of high schools (Raiola played at three), college commitments (three), and now potentially flexing his situation to influence the staff is a terrible look. Again, this is a rumor, and the school will surely fight back on it. But Raiola's off-field track record has thus far not been justified by on-field play.
We'll see how this offseason plays out for the young man. Improvement is necessary for Nebraska to reach its dreams. Rhule can certainly survive Raiola being a recruiting bust, but Raiola's star can't survive just being a high-end recruit who has played poorly.
