One of the most interesting things about Nebraska football quarterback Dylan Raiola is just how much respect the signal caller engenders from his opponents. That respect comes even though he's only logged one year in college football so far.
That respect was on display in spades during last week's Big Ten media days when the Omaha World-Herald made the rounds to see just what Raiola's rivals thought about him. As it turns out, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer, considered one of the best of the Big Ten, was most effusive in his praise for the Huskers QB.
Why Big Ten defenses say Nebraska football's Dylan Raiola is already a problem
"It’s so unique at that age, it really is," Altmyer said of the Nebraska football quarterback's pocket poise. "I really applied a lot of his game that I watched on that Friday night to the rest of my season. It really helped me."
The Illini star went further in saying that he was still aspiring to that level of calm feet and efficient motion he saw live and on video from the former 5-star prospect. The arm strength and quick decision-making pop too.
Altmyer's praise was the kind you don't see a senior make to a freshman all that often. Altmyer has grown and matured quickly. He might understand better than most how hard it is to be as polished as Raiola is at such a young age.
He wasn't the only Big Ten rival that was impressed with what Raiola had to offer in his true freshman season.
Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis took on the Huskers QB head-to-head like Altmyer, though he lost his matchup. He was still quite impressed by what he saw — "He's a really good player," the senior said.
Kaliakmanis's teammate, linebacker Dariel Djabome, was impressed by what the signal caller was able to do against the Rutgers pass rush.
One sequence that sticks with Djabome came on a pass play when Raiola hung in the pocket and threw the ball as the defender tackled him.
"He actually completed the ball," Djabome said. "I was like, ‘Damn.’ It was a pretty good throw, too. I looked back at the play like, ‘Damn, how'd he get that off?’"
There were other stories like this about the Nebraska football quarterback throughout the three-day event. The bottom line to all of this is that Dylan Raiola has impressed already, and most of his opponents expect him only to get better.