One of the reasons why theres’ so much excitement around the Nebraska football team this coming season is the growth of star quarterback Dylan Raiola. There have been quite a bit of mention about how much he’s grown over the last year and head coach Matt Rhule once again made it clear he thinks the soon-to-be-sophomore will impress in a big way in 2025.
Rhule talked about Raiola during a recent press conference, just ahead of the Huskers’ wrapping up spring practice. The coach was specifically asked what the signal caller is doing different this spring.
Nebraska sees Dylan Raiola take massive leap in leadership and command
“I mean, Dylan's 10 steps ahead of where he was, and where he was was pretty cool,” the Nebraska footbal head coach told the assembled media. “Even like a day-to-day when there's no pads and you're doing all these two-minute drills, the defensive line can knock down the line. There's no pads in the pockets, and his movement in the pocket I think is excellent. His ability to play the next play and move on. His checks, his knowing what he's seeing coverage-wise.”
There is one other way where Raiola has changed that Rhule has seen this spring. He feels as though the young quarterback is growing not just into a leader, but another coach.
“I've really enjoyed watching him coach the other quarterbacks while they're out there, right? So, you know, Glenn's over there with the other quarterbacks, kind of getting them to play, going through the reads and all that. And then whether it's Jalyn [Gramstad] or TJ [Lateef], they're behind and he's, you know, Dylan's back there and he's reminding him of things.”
The Husker coach also said that on occasion Dylan Raiola will take the reigns and come up with situations his teammates will try and work through. All the things someone who is making the team his own does.
The Nebraska football team has offered quite a bit of hype for Dylan Raiola this spring. He still has to live up to it in the fall. But for now at least, there’s a ton of optimism about what the quarterback will look like when the games count.