There are a lot of things the Nebraska football coaching staff is looking for in regards to the team taking a big step forward in 2025. Head coach Matt Rhule pointed to the continued development of Dylan Raiola as perhaps the most important.
It’s not just that Rhule wants Raiola to work on things like footwork and his accuracy. He’s not just working on better learning Dana Holgorsen’s offense. The coach is also wanting his quarterback to into a championship quarterback’s body.
"He won't be a great quarterback at 240 pounds," the Nebraska football coach said on Tuesday morning’. "Getting his body composition 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 we're all bought into and he has to continue to do.”
Nebraska football looking for maturity and development from Dylan Raiola
Rhule made it clear that he’s not the only one coming up with a list of things that Raiola should improve on. The quarterback has some things he wants to get better at too.
If Raiola “kept his voice quiet” as a true freshman among veterans, “he has to step up and lead” vocally in 2025. The gunslinger has said as much. He’s also showed on social media that he really is taking working out and getting a different kind of body ready.
He’s not going to be “done” transforming that body when spring practice starts. He might not even be done by the end of the spring. It’s something to look more closely at once fall camp arrives. But it’s clear that Rhule has very specific goals he expects the Nebraska football team’s most important player to attain before the season starts. And if he does, 2025 could be special.