Dylan Raiola ready to star at Nebraska: Will program’s latest ‘savior’ actually live up to expectations?

The future is now for Nebraska football after it named five-star freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola as the starter earlier this week for the upcoming 2024 season. As the Huskers desperately seek to regain their relevance in college football, the arrival and quick emergence of Raiola offers a glimmer of hope for a program enduring its toughest stretch since before Bob Devaney’s tenure in the early 1960s. While there are reasons for optimism as the new era begins, setting expectations too high can lead to disappointment — a scenario Nebraska fans know all too well.

Raiola already sent college football into a frenzy back in December when he flipped his commitment from Georgia to the Huskers. As the son of Nebraska football legend Dominic Raiola — an All-Big 12 offensive lineman and Rimington Trophy winner — the younger Raiola immediately became the face of Huskers football in 2024.

So, while the arrival of Raiola sparked excitement and optimism, it is crucial to balance enthusiasm with a realistic perspective.

RELATED (VIP from 247Sports): Examining what QB Dylan Raiola can bring on and off-the-field for Nebraska

Below is a closer look at why expectations for Raiola at Nebraska should be high, but also reasons to temper the hype.

Why expectations for Dylan Raiola should be high

1. Second-highest rated recruit in Nebraska history

It may be a reflection of our social media-driven world, but no prospect generated more excitement upon committing to Nebraska than Raiola. By the end of the 2024 recruiting cycle, Raiola ranked as the second-highest-rated prospect to ever sign with the Huskers in the modern era. As the first five-star recruit to commit to the Huskers in the 247Sports era (since 2010) and just the third in the internet era of recruiting, his arrival in Lincoln is nothing short of monumental.

So, yeah, it is easy to see why expectations are sky-high as Raiola steps in to lead the Nebraska offense in a pivotal 2024 season. But it is not all overblown hype. 

Andrew Ivins, 247Sports’ Director of Scouting, compared Raiola to longtime NFL quarterback and Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford. His final ranking as the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the 2024 class was reflected in his ability to deliver an impressive deep ball pass and effectively operate off play-action. As Ivins noted in his evaluation, these skills suggest Raiola is poised to successfully transition from high school to college football.

If his 88 touchdown passes and 8,595 passing yards over the past three years was not remarkable enough, his ability to protect the football will certainly catch the attention of Nebraska fans. Raiola threw just one interception on 250 pass attempts as a senior and only 11 interceptions on 878 attempts over the past three years. For comparison, the Huskers’ quarterbacks combined for 16 interceptions on 348 attempts last season.

2. Huskers surrounded Raiola with a wealth of passing game weapons

Aside from the high rate of turnovers, a major factor in the poor offensive play by Nebraska last season was the lack of available talent at the skill positions. By late November 2023, injuries had reduced the Huskers to only a few healthy scholarship receivers. However, with improved depth on the perimeter, this should no longer be a concern in 2024 as Raiola commands the offense.

Along with returning sophomores Jaylen Lloyd and Malachi Coleman, and the return of Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda from injury, Nebraska bolstered its receiving corps with transfers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor, who expect to be significant contributors. Equally important, the Huskers have a promising tight end — often considered a “best friend” for a young quarterback — adding an extra layer of support and a reliable outlet for Raiola.

Thomas Fidone II led Nebraska in touchdown catches last year and was the top-ranked tight end prospect coming out of nearby Council Bluffs (Iowa) Lewis Central in the 2021 class.

“You have to give (Matt) Rhule credit for assembling a cast of playmakers,” Ivins said. “When I look at the two-deep I think Thomas Fidone is a bit of a forgotten guy in the national picture. He was a highly-ranked guy coming out. That tight end position is usually late developing and I think Fidone could have a breakout year, which is odd to say about a fourth-year player, but a rookie quarterback could be his best friend.”

3. Schedule offers Raiola, Nebraska opportunity to build confidence

Nebraska has not opened a season at Memorial Stadium since 2019, which was also the last time the Huskers started 1-0. This year, for the first time in five seasons, Nebraska will kick off the season in Lincoln and will not face a road game until Week 5. It is a favorable schedule for a true freshman quarterback like Raiola to ease into, offering an opportunity to build confidence and find his rhythm.

UTEP was picked to finish second-to-last in the C-USA preseason poll. Northern Iowa is 3-18 against FBS opponents in the past 20 seasons with each win coming against Iowa State. And Illinois was five spots below Nebraska in the Big Ten preseason poll. The first real test for the Huskers is a rivalry showdown with Colorado in primetime. The Buffaloes own three-straight wins against the former conference foe. 

Nebraska is unlikely to encounter a ranked opponent until Week 9, when it travels to Ohio State. Given the schedule, it is feasible for the Huskers to start the 2024 season 6-1, or even 7-0, securing bowl eligibility and ending their seven-year postseason drought. A promising start would set a strong foundation for the development of Raiola and the overall success of Nebraska in a crucial campaign.

Reasons to stay cautious about Raiola starting

1. A steep learning curve awaits the true freshman

It is not unusual for a true freshman quarterback to start in Week 1, but it remains relatively rare in the current college football landscape where experienced quarterbacks are highly sought-after in the transfer portal. In fact, Raiola will be the second true freshman quarterback in the past seven years to start the season opener at Nebraska. Scott Frost placed similar trust in Adrian Martinez during their first season together in 2018. While Martinez showed flashes of being one of the nation’s top dual-threat quarterbacks, costly turnovers in critical moments derailed what was a hyped-up campaign.

2. Marcus Satterfield returns as OC after disastrous 2023 campaign

Rhule hired Marcus Satterfield as part of his initial staff at Nebraska before the 2023 season. He ranked among the top 25 highest-paid assistants in college football and had the 12th-highest salary ($1.4 million) among offensive coordinators last year. The two previously worked together at Temple (2013-15), Baylor (2018-19) and the Carolina Panthers (2020). But there was not much success for Satterfield in his debut with the Huskers. The offense became overly reliant on the running game and ended up with the fourth-lowest scoring average (18.0 points per game) among Power Five teams.

Can Raiola really fix everything for Nebraska? Maybe. That is still a lot of pressure to put on a young quarterback.

Rhule did bring in veteran quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas to further help the development of Raiola and others in the room. Thomas, who most recently served as an offensive assistant for the Pittsburgh Steelers, also holds the title of co-offensive coordinator for the Huskers.

“He’s not there to be your friend. He’s there to help you play better,” Rhule said during a recent radio appearance. “I don’t need to be friends with my dentist, though I am. I don’t need to be friends with my doctor, though I am. I need people who can get jobs done. I think he has a great relationship with his players. My point is he’s going to be a stickler for the details. He’s going to be a stickler for the technique. He’s going to be a stickler for the process.”

3. Slight overreaction to spring game performance?

Yes, Raiola looked smooth, comfortable and confident in the Nebraska spring game back in April, completing 16 of 22 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. However, it is important to note that many of the Huskers’ defensive starters either sat out or played limited snaps. Therefore, it is challenging to gauge how his performance will translate to a live game against a full-strength opposing defense.

Rhule wanted the final spring scrimmage to be as close to a live game as possible, but it is also as much of a show for the fans as it is a glorified practice. Some players perform different when the bright lights come on. While Nebraska seems optimistic in Raiola to block out the outside noise, the unknown still lingers.