What five-star QB Dylan Raiola's flip from Georgia to Nebraska means for Matt Rhule, Huskers

Bill Bender

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What five-star QB Dylan Raiola's flip from Georgia to Nebraska means for Matt Rhule, Huskers image

Dylan Raiola – the top-ranked quarterback recruit in the class of 2024 – flipped his commitment from Georgia to Nebraska on Monday. 

This is a major recruiting win for second-year coach Matt Rhule, who scored the Huskers' first five-star recruit since 2005. 

Raiola – who has family ties to Nebraska – had committed to Georgia on May 15, but those plans apparently changed late in the process. Georgia starter Carson Beck has been non-committal about his intentions beyond playing for Georgia in the Orange Bowl. 

Why is Raiola's commitment so impactful for Nebraska – which finished 5-7 and just missed a bowl game in Rhule's first season? A closer look at what Raiola's commitment means for Nebraska and Georgia.

MORE: Tracking the high-profile QBs in transfer portal

Who is Dylan Raiola? 

Raiola is a five-star quarterback who played his senior season at Buford (Ga.) High School. He led the Wolves to an 11-2 record this season with 2,819 passing yards, 34 TDs and one interception. 

Raiola played one year at Burleson (Texas) High School in 2021 and Chandler (Ariz.) High School in 2022. He totaled 54 TDs and 10 interceptions in those two stops. 

Raiola is the son of former Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola, who played at Nebraska. Dylan's uncle Donovan is the offensive line coach for the Huskers. Raiola originally committed to Ohio State, but he reopened his commitment before committing to Georgia. He is the No. 2 overall recruit in the class of 2024, according to 247Sports.com. 

Will Dylan Raiola, Matt Rhule solve Nebraska QB problem? 

Nebraska has endured seven straight losing seasons heading into 2024. Here is a look at the Huskers' leading passer in those seven seasons: 

Nebraska leading passer last seven seasons

YEAR QB YARDS TDS INTS
2017 Tanner Lee 2,143 23 16
2018 Adrian Martinez 2,617 17 8
2019 Adrian Martinez 1,956 10 9
2020 Adrian Martinez 1,055 4 3
2021 Adrian Martinez 2,863 14 10
2022 Casey Thompson 2,407 18 10
2023 Heinrich Haarberg 967 7 7

Those quarterbacks averaged 2,001 passing yards, 13 TDs and nine interceptions per season. In 2023, Rhule tried Georgia Tech transfer Jeff Sims (282 yards, 1 TD, 6 INTs) and Florida State transfer Chubba Purdy (382, 2 TDs, 3 INTs) along with Haarberg, but Nebraska ranked 13th in the Big Ten in passing offense with 135.9 yards per game. 

Raiola has a great chance to start as a freshman – and that might have been the primary consideration when he flipped from Georgia. Sims is back in the transfer portal, and Raiola would be given the chance to at least compete with Haarberg and Purdy for the starting job in spring practice. 

How Dylan Raiola's family connections led to Nebraska commitment 

Nebraska always had a shot with Raiola based on the family name. Dominic was a two-year starter at center for Nebraska and won the Rimington Trophy in 2000. He played 14 seasons for the Detroit Lions. Donovan Raiola played offensive line at Wisconsin and parts of six seasons in the NFL. He is entering his fourth season as Nebraska's offensive line coach. 

Those connections helped pull Dylan Raiola to a school where he will be popular from Day 1 because of those family ties. 

Is Dylan Raiola Nebraska's best recruit ever? 

Raiola is Nebraska's first five-star recruit since 2005. 

247Sports.com has tracked recruiting ranks since 2005, and running back Marlon Lucky was the last five-star recruit in 2005. Lucky was part of a recruiting class that included defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2009. 

Raiola, however, is a quarterback – and that easily makes him Nebraska's most significant commitment of the 21st century. Now, the trick will be surrounding Raiola with enough talent to be successful in a Big Ten that will expand to 18 teams in 2024. 

Raiola also should play a role in attracting more talent to Nebraska. The Huskers have had nine players drafted since 2020, and they haven't had a first-round pick since the Giants selected Prince Amukamara with the No. 19 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. That accumulation of talent – more than anything else – will help Rhule build the Nebraska program.  

Georgia's QB depth chart without Dylan Raiola

Carson Beck passed for 3,738 yards, 22 TDs and six interceptions in leading the Bulldogs to a 12-1 record and appearance in the SEC championship game. Beck announced on Dec. 18 he will return to Georgia for the 2024 season, so there shouldn't be any questions about who will start for the Bulldogs. 

Brock Vandagriff – a five-star recruit in 2021 – already transferred to Kentucky. Gunner Stockton will be a redshirt sophomore. 

Ryan Puglisi, a four-star quarterback from Avon (Conn.) Old Farms High School, arrived this week and is practicing with the team ahead of the Orange Bowl. He will enroll in classes in January. 

Bill Bender

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Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.