Matt Rhule praises Dylan Raiola for staying at Nebraska, not taking 'easy way out' via transfer portal

After helping Nebraska become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2016, Dylan Raiola will look to take a step forward as a sophomore. He took strides as a freshman in 2024, and Matt Rhule said he expects another leap this coming season.

Rhule also pointed out Raiola opted to run it back at Nebraska even though the transfer portal was an option if he chose to enter. He praised his sophomore quarterback for sticking with the Cornhuskers rather than taking the “easy way out” and restarting.

Raiola had an up-and-down freshman year at Nebraska, but threw just one interception over his final three games as the Cornhuskers went 2-1 during that time. With Dana Holgorsen in for a full season as offensive coordinator, the sense is Raiola will continue to develop – and Rhule said he’s progressing well.

“Man, he is in such a good place,” Rhule told Jim Rome. “He has so many eyes on him. He has the weight and pressure of an entire fan base, of an entire state, of a blue blood like Nebraska. First year, you come in – to me, if you’re a big-time recruit, it’s about learning how to handle the pressure, learning how to handle the frustrating moments. I think he did that really well. The highs and lows, we finished the year on a real uptick.

“And everyone reached out to him. He could’ve taken the easy way out and left and gone to the portal and gone to some place where he could start over, maybe where he doesn’t have to do as much himself. But he chose to stick it out and fight and came back. I’ve been excited to see where he’s at.”

Dylan Raiola threw for 2,819 yards and 13 touchdowns to 11 interceptions a year ago. He noticeably improved after Holgorsen took over as play-caller, completing 72% of his passes for 707 yards and two touchdowns to just one interception over the final three games – including the bowl game win over Boston College.

Rhule said from both a mental and physical standpoint, Raiola is improving well through summer. But he also now knows how to deal with the pressure that comes with being a highly rated recruit, and that’s where Rhule said he can especially benefit in Year 2.

“Mentally, from a football perspective, it comes really easy to him,” Rhule said. “But he’s worked so hard at it. He knows everything inside and out. His body looks great, tremendous shape.

“Where I see him growing is in the phases of leadership, in the phases of mental toughness, handling adversity. I think he’s going to have a great year.”