Matt Rhule explains why Dylan Raiola is starting quarterback

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule smiled as he considered a listener’s question about the freshmen he expects will see the field this fall.

“Well, Dylan will play,” Rhule said without hesitation.

That much was made certain earlier in the day Wednesday when Nebraska football posted to social media confirming that freshman Dylan Raiola will begin the season as the team’s starting quarterback. In his monthly radio show on the Huskers Radio Network, Rhule detailed why he was ready to name Raiola as Nebraska’s starter.

“Dylan’s a special talent,” Rhule said. “He’s got a great arm, he’s worked really hard at his timing with his feet, he’s protected the ball and he’s aggressive in the right ways, so we’re excited to see him play. He’s still a rookie and there’s a lot of things he has to learn, but I think each day he’ll be a little bit better than the last day.”

Rhule said that Raiola’s composure in the pocket and knowledge of the offense impressed him during fall camp.

As he has throughout Nebraska’s camp competition, Rhule was quick to praise junior Heinrich Haarberg and freshman Daniel Kaelin alongside Raiola, saying “they battled and competed” for the starting role. Of Haarberg, an eight-game starter last year, Rhule said the quarterback has proved he is a “winner” whose status as a dual-threat quarterback brings a different skillset to his position group.

“I’m sure that you’ll see him at some point this year in some way,” Rhule said of Haarberg.

Nebraska also began its formal game preparation for UTEP on Wednesday, Rhule said, 10 days ahead of the team’s Aug. 31 season opener. With the Huskers now into the final stretch of their fall camp which coincides with the start of the fall semester, togetherness and effort are what Rhule is hoping to see from his players in the coming days.

“I think we’re a significantly better football team than we were when we started,” Rhule said of Nebraska’s fall camp. “… Guys coming in every day and working to help the team win, that’s what I want to see over the next 10 days.”

* Nine of Nebraska’s 10 single-digit jersey recipients play on the defensive side of the ball, but that positional imbalance doesn’t faze Rhule. The NU head coach said the Huskers have “great leadership on offense,” and named running back Rahmir Johnson, tight end Thomas Fidone II, Raiola and wide receiver Isaiah Neyor as players who’d been considered for the honor alongside wide receiver Jahmal Banks.

“When you think about toughness and you think about physicality, you naturally go to defense and I think they picked a great group of guys,” Rhule said.

Nebraska’s other yearly jersey tradition, the Blackshirts being awarded to defensive starters, will take place going into game week, Rhule said.

* According to Rhule, Nebraska will not wear any alternate uniforms this season. The Huskers have annually worn an alternate jersey for a single game dating back to 2012, including when the team wore a uniform honoring the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium last October.

Rhule did note that Nebraska administrators are working with Adidas on plans for alternate uniforms during future seasons.

“There’s no alternate uniform this year,” Rhule said. “There was nothing planned for this year, I think that was just sort of a philosophical decision.”

* Junior defensive back Marques Buford, one of Nebraska’s single-digit jersey recipients, will start at cornerback against UTEP, Rhule announced.

* Positions of uncertainty remaining on Nebraska’s depth chart include kick returner, punt returner and field goal kicker, Rhule said. Sophomore Tristan Alvano’s absence has led to increased reps for John Hohl and Nico Ottomanelli, who Rhule praised for their practice efforts, but the Huskers are continuing to wait and evaluate Alvano’s health prior to making a decision at the position.

“Kicking field goals equals winning and that’s still a question right now,” Rhule said. “The things that do keep me up at night, that’s one of them.”