Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule named true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola the starter for the Cornhuskers’ Week 1 matchup towards UTEP on Aug. 31.
Raiola, the No. 3-ranked quarterback and No. 11 total on ESPN’s Prime 300 recruiting checklist, beat out junior Heinrich Haarberg and freshman Daniel Kaelin.
Initially headed to Georgia, Raiola flipped his dedication to his father’s alma mater in December 2023, telling ESPN, “I actually consider that Nebraska is in my blood.”
After reporting to Nebraska’s camp, Raiola went viral on-line for his resemblance to Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Whether or not he can play just like the three-time Tremendous Bowl winner is but to be decided. The 19-year-old steps into a task wherein he should seemingly again up Rhule’s statements in regards to the power of the Huge Ten and the function of Nebraska’s new QB.
“There will be a day you lookup… these two freshmen are taking part in within the Nationwide Soccer League,” Rhule stated about Raiola and Kaelin in an Aug. 17 information convention.
Raiola has his work minimize out for him with the Cornhuskers, who haven’t gained greater than 5 video games in a season since 2016. Nebraska’s 2024 schedule, nevertheless, provides the right alternative to maneuver this system ahead.
Nebraska’s first main check might be internet hosting Deion Sanders and Colorado on Sept. 7. A win in that sport will arrange Rhule and Raiola for a possible 4-0 begin and maybe put Nebraska within the Faculty Soccer Playoff dialog.
Sustained success would be the mission as Nebraska has a excessive likelihood of dropping no less than three video games at Huge Ten powers Ohio State (Oct. 26), USC (Nov. 16) and Iowa (Nov. 29).
However something higher than 5 wins — Rhule’s benchmark from his 2023 debut — must be sufficient to place Nebraska again on the faculty soccer radar.
