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The Nebraska football team is gearing up for spring practice ahead of its 2025 campaign. Dylan Raiola will be a major player in the Cornhuskers’ success.
The former five-star passer is entering Year 2 of his NCAA career after winning the starting job as a freshman. He expects to take the next step after leading the ‘Huskers to seven wins in his debut.
Head coach Matt Rhule spoke about his signal caller in a press conference on Tuesday. He fully anticipates that his quarterback will thrive under OC Dana Holgorsen’s tutelage.
With that being said, there was an area of concern. He doesn’t want to see complacency.
“As a freshman, he did a lot of things that freshman don’t do… but he’s going into Year 2 now,” Rhule said. “The thing we’re trying to avoid with all of our freshman is, a lot of times, guys have some success as a freshman and they kind of tail off. Then it takes until Year 3 and you’ve got to get them back going again… Dylan’s certainly one we cannot allow that to happen to.”
Included in that outlook are both on and off-field performance. Right now, the most important part of preparing for the upcoming season is by winning in the weight room. He touched on Raiola’s dedication to his training on Tuesday.
“He’s really working on his body composition,” Rhule said. “He won’t be a great quarterback at 240 pounds. Getting his body composition to one where he can be fleet of foot, where he can slide nimbly and move within the pocket, where he can convert third downs with his feet, I think that’s something that we’re all bought into, and he has to continue to do.”
Dylan Raiola was listed at 230 pounds on Nebraska’s football roster last season. His coach suggests he could be a bit heavier this spring. Some grew concerned with his weight in the offseason after seeing a video of the passer in a very small jersey go viral on social media.
Matt Rhule wants to ensure that his top player stays in great shape to more effectively lead the offense. If he’s able to, he can better hope to achieve his goals.
Raiola announced national championship aspirations for the Cornhuskers after leading the program to a bowl game as a rookie. It’s the next step in his cosplay of NFL passer Patrick Mahomes.
His success on the field could also impact his NIL wealth. His valuation through On3 Sports calculator currently sits at $2.3 million. The coaching staff will work hard to ensure that money doesn’t go to waste.
Matt Rhule didn’t seem overly concerned with his quarterback’s physique. It is a point of emphasis, though. Look for a fleet-footed Dylan Raiola to lace up the cleats this season in Lincoln.