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Nebraska Cornhuskers freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola looked every bit like the superstar five-star prospect that he was in his debut for the Huskers.
Raiola threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the first half against UTEP, eclipsing Nebraska’s season-high of 199 passing yards a year ago.
He also made some jaw-dropping throws that earned the praise of two-time NFL MVP and noted doppelganger Patrick Mahomes.
Lil cuzzo!! 💪🏽🎯 https://t.co/PpjiPf2XVc
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) August 31, 2024
Both of Raiola’s touchdowns came on impressive throws downfield, something Nebraska has badly lacked in recent years.
Raiola won the starting job over returning junior Heinrich Haarberg, who started four games for Huskers a year ago but completed less than 50 percent of his passes.
The superstar freshman took a unique path to this point. His father, Dominic Raiola, was a star center for the Detroit Lions and a Nebraska alum. But Raiola committed to both Ohio State and Georgia before eventually signing with the Huskers.
Additionally, he says he wasn’t even a fan of football when he first began playing.
“I think a lot of people think I try to be just like him,” Raiola said of him Mahomes resemblance. “But honestly I grew up, I played baseball. I never liked football. As a kid I always wore glasses. I’ve had this haircut since sixth, seventh grade maybe and I didn’t really know about Mahomes them.
“I have my own little kick to it, so it’s not completely like him. But I guess if that’s what people want to say, I mean that guy’s one of the best. So it’s cool.”
Raiola’s incredible debut comes with a caveat. The UTEP Miners, Nebraska’s opponent, went just 3-9 a year ago. But it’s still an impressive showing giving the stage and the expectations. And if he keeps it up, he could soon find himself playing on the same field as Mahomes in the future.