Dylan Raiola raising intensity level for Nebraska football

In front of 85,000 fans in a rivalry game against Colorado, Nebraska freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola rose to the occasion and executed the whole game.

Coach Matt Rhule said Raiola’s done everything he’s wanted from the young quarterback through two games.

He does things he hasn’t seen from other quarterbacks. Rhule pointed to a play where Raiola handed the ball off and worked to block the blitzing corner.

“Good players make plays,” Rhule said. “Dylan makes plays.”

Raiola threw for 185 yards and one touchdown and completed 23 passes on 30 attempts. His performance helped the Huskers take down Colorado 28-10 Saturday night.

Rhule said he told the offense a lot of them have to pick up their intensity to Raiola’s level. His young quarterback tries to fit balls in places where players are supposed to be.

“He’s at a whole other level,” Rhule said. “Those other guys better pick it up, and that’s said respectfully and with love.”

While Raiola has done what he needs to do to help the Huskers, Rhule said his main feedback for his quarterback was late-game clock management against the Buffaloes.

Rhule also said that Raiola can sometimes be too aggressive, but that’s something the two communicate situationally.

Besides these two points, Rhule said Raiola prepares at such a high level that the team can do more with him on the field.

“If a freshman knows all 120 plays in the gameplan,” Rhule said. “Then, as a junior, I better know all 120 plays.”

Raiola’s preparation goes beyond knowing the game plan and understanding what the defense is doing situationally. After watching film on what opponents like to do defensively, Rhule said Raiola could see coverages like cover two and know what play to run in that situation.

“If he knows that from camp,” Rhule said. “Everyone else should know that.”

Rhule said how the new helmet communication has been huge in helping Raiola through his first two games and his development on the field.

He said that Raiola is up there with other top freshman quarterbacks he’s coached, like PJ Walker at Temple and Charlie Brewer at Baylor.

“I’m in the position that I’m in,” Rhule said. “Because of great quarterbacks.”