Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola is set to enter the transfer portal, sources revealed to ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Monday. The highly touted former five-star recruit will officially announce his move when the portal opens on January 2. Raiola is looking for a program where he can fully leverage his potential over the next two seasons.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 230 pounds, Raiola made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2024. He threw for an impressive 4,819 yards with a completion rate of 69%, tallying 31 touchdown passes against 21 turnovers across 22 starts with the Huskers. His performance played a crucial role in leading Nebraska to its first bowl game since 2016, achieving a 7-5 record during his debut season. Notably, he set a program record for freshmen with 2,819 passing yards.
Raiola’s journey to Nebraska further honors his family’s legacy. He is the son of Dominic Raiola, a former NFL offensive lineman, All-American, and Nebraska Football Hall of Fame inductee. The young quarterback initially committed to Georgia but flipped to Nebraska in December 2023, providing coach Matt Rhule and his team with a star player to build around as they entered their second year.
Unfortunately, Raiola’s sophomore season was derailed on November 1 when he suffered a broken right fibula during a 21-17 loss to USC, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Freshman backup TJ Lateef stepped in to fill the void, accumulating 820 total yards and seven touchdowns in the final three games.
Adding to the shift within the program, Nebraska recently parted ways with offensive line coach Donovan Raiola, who is also Dylan’s uncle, and brought in Geep Wade from Georgia Tech as his successor. The changes have also affected the family dynamic, as Raiola’s younger brother, three-star quarterback Dayton Raiola, decommitted from Nebraska in late November.
As the Huskers prepare to end their season in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl against No. 15 Utah on December 31, they will look to make the most of their current roster while preparing for the future, especially with prospective changes on the horizon following Raiola’s decision.