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 Top 300 recruiting list, 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 really imagine 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 job through which he should seemingly again up Rhule’s statements in regards to the energy of the Massive Ten and the position of Nebraska’s new QB.
“There will be a day you search for… these two freshmen are enjoying within the Nationwide Soccer League,” Rhule mentioned about Raiola and Kaelin in an Aug. 17 information convention.
Raiola has his work reduce out for him with the Cornhuskers, who haven’t won more than five games in a season since 2016. Nebraska’s 2024 schedule, nonetheless, affords the proper alternative to maneuver this system ahead.
Nebraska’s first main take a look at will likely be internet hosting Deion Sanders and Colorado on Sept. 7. A win in that recreation 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 chance of shedding not less than three video games at Massive 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 — ought to be sufficient to place Nebraska again on the faculty soccer radar.
