In a surprising move, the University of Nebraska has announced that true freshman Dylan Raiola will start the season as the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart. Many are shocked by this move because of who else they have on the roster.
Nebraska announces that freshman Dylan Raiola will start for the Cornhuskers this season 🌽 pic.twitter.com/oLT8Us3ASC
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) August 21, 2024
Last year, Heinrich Haarbery played the majority of the time at quarterback, completing 77 passes on 157 attempts, seven touchdowns, seven interceptions, and even running for 477 yards and five touchdowns. With Haarbery now going into his junior year, there was a very strong chance that he would retain his spot as starting quarterback.
However, Raiola, a five-star prospect according to 247 Sports, was also the No. 2 quarterback in the nation, the seventh-best prospect overall in the nation, and the best to come out of Georgia.
“From a pure talent standpoint, should be viewed as a blue-chip pocket passer that can be a true difference-maker on Saturdays and potentially even Sundays,” wrote Andrew Ivins of 247 Sports about Raiola. “However, has to block out the noise and buy into the process while remaining self-confident in his abilities after attending four different high schools in three years.”
If he plays well enough, Raiola could be a huge factor in bringing Nebraska back to being a football powerhouse.
Dylan Raiola Is One Of Nebraska’s Best Recruits Of All Time
Signing a five-star quarterback is great for any team, but it could possibly change everything about the University of Nebraska’s football program.
247 Sports ranks Raiola as the second-best prospect to ever land with the team since five-star running back Marion Lucky committed to them in 2005.
In fact, Nebraska had not signed a single five-star player since Lucky. Raiola could be the missing piece Nebraska needs to return to college football royalty.
