Football

Dayton Raiola, younger brother of Dylan, commits to Nebraska football

by
Huskers Today
September 22, 2024

Nebraska’s first commit for the 2026 class is a quarterback with a familiar last name and older brother in the earliest stages of his Husker career.

Dayton Raiola, two years younger than Dylan, announced on Sunday night his commit to the Huskers. A junior at Buford (Georgia) High School, Dayton just took over the starting QB for Dylan, who just completed his first month as NU’s starter.

At 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, Dayton is a little shorter than Dylan and more of a runner. He’s also left-handed; Dylan is right-handed.

Dayton, a three-star prospect, has been a frequent visitor to Nebraska’s campus for practices, games and, this summer, a Friday Night Lights camp where he threw under the watchful eye of Dylan and NU coaches. Dayton has had a scholarship offer to the Huskers for some time.

He also played a role in helping Dylan pick Nebraska. The boys’ father, former Husker All-American center Dominic Raiola, has described Dayton as a diehard Nebraska football fan who, during rides to and from school with Dylan, talked through Dylan’s decision between sticking with Georgia and switching to Nebraska.

The day Dylan decided he was interested in Nebraska again, Dayton texted his dad.

“It said, ‘Dad, Dylan wants to visit Nebraska,’” Dominic said in December. “So I told my wife. It was pretty cool, how organically it happened, because that’s Dylan. He’s so respectful, he didn’t want to ruffle any feathers.”

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule speaks after the Illinois game on Friday.