Former five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola returns to Nebraska for his second season of collegiate football in 2025. With Raiola at quarterback last season, the Cornhuskers won seven games and made an appearance in a bowl game for the first time since 2016.
Raiola suffered a back injury in last season’s game against UCLA, but didn’t miss any time. He revealed during a media opportunity on Friday that he is feeling the best he ever has heading into his sophomore season this year.
“I feel tremendously great,” Raiola said. “My body is in the best shape it’s been in. I’m not tired at all. I’m sleeping great and recovering three times a day; morning, after practice and at night before I head home. Just taking that next step of taking care of my body is the biggest thing for me just so that I can give teammates my 100% best and I think they deserve that. I know they deserve that. That’s the least I can do for them.”
In 13 games last season, Raiola completed 67% of his passes for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was a five-star recruit (ranked No. 21 overall in his class) coming out of Buford (Buford, GA) in 2024.
Raiola received major help from Transfer Portal this offseason
To help their young star, Nebraska hauled in former Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key and former Cal wide receiver Nyziah Hunter from the Transfer Portal this offseason. Key departed Kentucky with the program’s fifth most receiving yards in a career (1,870), while Hunter hauled in 40 catches for 578 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman last season.
“The feedback we’re getting (from Nebraska) is that the wide receiver group and the running back group is much better than anticipated,” college football personality Josh Pate said on Thursday via “Josh Pate’s College Football Show”. “Now, that doesn’t mean that they thought they were going to be terrible. It’s just the group, especially the depth at wide receiver, the quality of player there, is just better.
“You pair that with Dylan Raiola, another year of experience-wise, teaming up with (offensive coordinator) Dana Holgerson. I just think the offense and the level of production from that offense — the explosivity from that offense — maybe takes some people by surprise this year.”
Nebraska, with Raiola behind center for the second season, opens its 2025 campaign against Cincinnati on Aug. 28 in GEHA Arrowhead Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 9:00 PM on ESPN.
