Will Compton reacts to Dylan Raiola decision to enter transfer portal: 'We're going to find us a quarterback'

After two years at Nebraska, Dylan Raiola is expected to enter the transfer portal, as On3’s Pete Nakos reported. He was one of Matt Rhule’s first big recruiting wins in Lincoln, but is now preparing to hit the open market.

To former Nebraska star Will Compton, though, the news wasn’t much of a surprise. But he’s confident the Huskers will find a new quarterback, whether it’s someone already on the roster or a new face.

Speaking on Bussin’ With The Boys on Tuesday, Compton said he heard rumblings of Raiola’s potential departure. But he’s still optimistic about the program’s future as Rhule prepares for Year 4.

“That’s not surprising,” Compton said as the news broke. “I knew that that was coming. … I’ve spoke with people over the weekend. Those conversations will stay with me and who I was talking to.

“But all the evidence has let up to, he’s going to be hitting the portal at some point. … Listen, we’re going to find us a quarterback. Not even worried about this.”

Will Compton: Dylan Raiola departure ‘is what it is’

Dylan Raiola’s arrival at Nebraska marked a big recruiting win for Matt Rhule. A five-star prospect, Raiola was the No. 21 overall player and No. 3-ranked quarterback from the 2024 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He completed 72.4% of his passes for 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns before an injury cut his 2025 season short.

Will Compton said he was hopeful Raiola would recover and lead Nebraska moving forward, but acknowledged the nature of the landscape with NIL and the transfer portal. That said, he’s ready to support whoever the Cornhuskers line up under center.

“It is what it is,” Compton said. “Personally, it’s like, I know he had the injury with the broken leg and everything else. What he’s done, what Dylan has meant to Nebraska for the last couple years – he’s a hell of a player, hell of a talent, hell of an athlete. How I went through Nebraska, how you think of [it] has a competitor and everything else you see with this NIL world, I was hopeful that he would be in this process of getting healthy and everything else, and want to continue to build on the little success that we’ve had over the last couple years and continue to be the guy and continue to run into the fight and bring this program back to what we want it to be.

“Now that he’s [going] in the portal, everything that I’ve heard behind the scenes and everything else, I kind of knew that this was coming. At this point, it’s more like, it is what it is. This is the world we live in now. And he’s not the guy that’s going to be the quarterback under center for Nebraska next year. So whoever that next guy’s going to be – whether it’s in-house right now or somebody we get out of the portal – I’m going to be the biggest fan.”