Despite comparisons to him, Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola receives affection from Patrick Mahomes.
Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola took the internet by storm this week when he showed up to fall camp sporting a mohawk fade and ski glasses, a look made popular by Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, Mahomes’ former teammate, made the two-time NFL MVP aware of his doppelgänger on social media. Mahomes responded: “That’s my lil cuzzo.”
Raiola wears No. 15 like Mahomes and worked with his trainer, Jeff Christensen, this offseason. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule compared his five-star freshman to the three-time Super Bowl champ.
“He wears the No. 15, and he patterns a lot of his game after Patrick Mahomes,” Rhule said, via the Zach Gelb Show. “Whilst there is only one Pat Mahomes, Dylan has certainly worked on making all of the off platform throws. Dylan has amazing arm talent, as good as anyone I’ve seen. He can make all the throws. There’s not a lot of transition for him.”
Raiola rated as the No. 7 overall prospect and No. 2 quarterback in the class of 2024. He’s the highest-rated quarterback to commit to the Huskers in the modern recruiting era (since 2000) and the second-highest-rated overall prospect behind running back Marlon Lucky (2005). Rhule said it wasn’t Raiola’s high school pedigree but his work ethic that won over Nebraska’s locker room this offseason.
“Dylan has done a great job of just coming in and being one of the guys,” Rhule said last week. “He shows up, and he works. That’s probably a credit to (parents) Dom and Yvonne. I’m sure Dom told him, ‘Just go in there and work.’ If I walk in to get my little old man workout in the afternoon, he’s usually there doing something extra. If you go in there early in the morning, he’s usually throwing.”
Center Ben Scott shared a similar sentiment: “He’s like the first one in the building, last one to leave because he’s always watching film, looking at sheets of plays. He’s just a different person.”
Husker247 listed Raiola at No. 8 on their list of “Most Indispensable Huskers” for the 2024 season and “has room to climb.” It’s the highest a true freshman has ever been on the site’s annual list.
