Assessing how big of a win landing Dylan Raiola is within the history of Nebraska program
Dylan Raiola committing was certainly a historic moment for Nebraska. He’s one of the highest-rated recruits to commit in the modern recruiting era. It’s a story in itself but considering Raiola was previously pledged to Georgia, the flip is all the more stunning for Matt Rhule.
Sean Callahan of On3’s Husker Online was asked if there is anything that compares for Nebraska. He went back to when a couple of future Big 12 stars were added back in the 2005 recruiting class. Bill Callahan was running the program at the time less than a decade removed from Tom Osborne.
“It’s hard to really compare it,” Callahan said during Monday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “You can go back to that recruiting class with Ndamukong Suh and Marlon Lucky. It was a top-five class. That recruiting class produced two eventual Big 12 Players of the Year. Zac Taylor and Ndamukong Suh.
“They haven’t had a guy this highly ranked since that Marlon Lucky, Suh class. So, in terms on ranking and legacy — it’s got to be right up there with one of the more high-profile commits Nebraska has ever landed. Especially when you talk about it as the quarterback position.”
The Nebraska 2005 recruiting class went on to make an impact for five seasons, with 2009 being the peak. A record of 41-24 was earned and there were two Big 12 Championship appearances. Maybe not the heights of the old days but, right now, that five-year stretch run is something Husker fans would take in an instant.
Dylan Raiola has been a household name for a few years
The traction Nebraska gained with Raiola seemingly came out of nowhere, occurring just before National Signing Day. But the Huskers have been working on Raiola for a whole lot longer. Even before Rhule took over the program, Scott Frost was attempting to get the five-star quarterback to commit.
People around the state have known about Raiola and have wanted him to end up in Lincoln for quite a bit of time.
“For the last three-plus years, Dylan Raiola has been a household recruit name,” Callahan said. “I call him a grocery store recruit. He’s a guy when you go to the grocery store, people stop and ask you questions about Dylan Raiola. There’s very few high school kids that have that kind of star power.”
The dreams Nebraska fans began having three years ago will likely be fulfilled on Wednesday. Raiola is expected to sign with the Cornhuskers and join the program as soon as possible. Once officially wearing the jersey, expectations are going to be high, hoping the school’s highest-rated modern quarterback recruit can deliver.