Dylan Raiola is the top-ranked prospect in the college football recruiting class of 2024 for a reason. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound quarterback has a cannon for an arm with an impressive ability to scoot for his size.
Those two things were both on display during Friday night’s Georgia high school football game between Buford and Marietta. Raiola went sicko mode!
Buford, which went on to win the game 30-3, moved to 5-0 on the season. The highlight of the evening came late in the first quarter.
Raiola, who is committed to play for Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs, lined up in the shotgun at his own 48-yard-line. He took the snap and dropped back in the pocket, but the Marietta defensive end immediately broke past the left tackle and came crashing down.
Rather than trying to rollout or escape, Raiola stood strong. A small shuffle toward the line of scrimmage failed to evade the rush because his left tackle failed to get back on the block, and the defender wrapped him up around the leg.
It looked as though, for a moment, Raiola was going to be sacked for a three-yard loss. Not so fast!
Dylan Raiola is a magician.
As Raiola was getting wrestled to the ground, his big frame stood strong and unleashed a bomb down the far sideline. The desperation throw was anything but desperate. It was a bullet.
On the other end, wide receiver Devin Williams had a step on the defensive back and went up to pull down the catch. Raiola’s pass was so good that Williams almost misplayed the trajectory and didn’t get to the route in time.
His quarterback gave him about two yards on the edge before the boundary and put it right on the money. The defensive back, who was slow in his coverage, never stood a chance of making a play on the ball.
Raiola, who transferred to Buford during the offseason, will stay in-state for his college career. Georgia, which may or may not be entirely comfortable with Carson Beck after the first three games of 2023, will be thrilled to add such a dominant athlete to its quarterback room next fall.
Week-in and week-out, Raiola continues to prove why he is No. 1!