Steven Sipple: Rhule’s approach to Nebraska QB competition seems to be clicking with Raiola
So far, so good.
That’s one way to characterize Dylan Raiola’s first spring of football practices for Nebraska. Mind you, there are no guarantees in this hotly competitive realm of the sports world. But, yes, it’s going well for the big right-handed quarterback as the Huskers gear toward the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday.
It went especially well for Raiola during a scrimmage this past Saturday. More on that in a second.
Am I surprised it’s going well for Raiola, one of the nation’s most touted players in the class of 2024? That question is complicated by a history of highly-rated prospects who arrived on Nebraska’s campus and never lived up to expectations. Some never came close.
Such misreads on prospects happen everywhere, in every sport.
So, I usually proceed with caution when it comes to these matters.
For Raiola — once again — so far, so good.
My read is he’s been doing what it takes to win the starting job for Nebraska in 2024. But I’ll remain cautious when it comes to hyperbole for Raiola and everyone else.
We’ve been burned a lot around here in the last, oh, 20-plus years.
Raiola’s performance in Hawaii was telling
I will say this: What I saw and heard from Raiola in January during Polynesian Bowl practices in Honolulu, Hawaii, and then during the all-star game itself, left me convinced that he has an excellent chance to succeed in the college game and beyond.
With Raiola seemingly gaining steam in Nebraska’s spring camp, it makes sense to revisit a few elements of HuskerOnline’s trip to Hawaii, which immediately preceded Raiola arriving in Lincoln for winter conditioning.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Raiola enjoyed a strong week of practice in Hawaii. It was impressive to watch him during those three days of work. Mike Zimmer, who coached Raiola on Team Makai, told HuskerOnline that Raiola was in complete command of the offense, going so far as to help receivers with which routes they were supposed to run when they forgot.
Remember, it was an all-star game. Low pressure. But Raiola was clearly locked in, taking it seriously. He has a businesslike way about him — precocious in that regard.
His dad told me that Dylan was slightly frustrated that week because Nebraska’s players had begun winter conditioning in Lincoln and he wanted to be there with them. To me, that was a good sign.
Galu Tagovailoa’s evaluation elicits confidence in Raiola
Another good sign occurred when I approached Galu Tagovailoa with some questions about the younger Raiola. That familiar name to sports fans, Tagovailoa, has become prominent on the American sports landscape because of Galu Tagovailoa’s two quarterback-playing sons — Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins and Taulia Tagovailoa, formerly of the Maryland Terrapins.
“Oh, man, Dylan is special,” the 52-year-old Galu Tagovailoa told me during a break in a Polynesian Bowl practice. “He’s just got a naturally strong arm. The kid reads defenses well. That’s what’s going to make him special. That’s the difference between Dylan and some of the kids that I’ve seen.”
Based on what I’ve heard this spring from Nebraska second-year head coach Matt Rhule (and others), Raiola is showing good command of the offense. Again … so far, so good. Raiola is apparently making good decisions with the ball because Rhule has said on more than one occasion that turnovers haven’t been a significant issue.
Rhule said Nebraska had only one turnover during Saturday’s major scrimmage, and that was by the third-team offense.
Anybody who knows Dylan Raiola at all will tell you he loves the game and studies it hard. I’ve said it before: He has benefited from mentorship from, among others, Matthew Stafford, Drew Stanton, and Jon Kitna. Yeah, it pays to have a father with connections.
“The moment you think you have it all figured out is when you stop growing,” Dylan told me in Hawaii. “I think just always being nitpicky, and having people who are going to tell me the truth, is what I need. A lot of it is about decision-making and picking up the speed of the game — and always taking care of the football.”
Amen to that.
The young QB came to Lincoln on a mission
As I watched Connecticut and Purdue push toward the NCAA men’s basketball championship game, I strangely thought of Dylan Raiola. Those teams were full of talent and clearly on a mission.
Dylan Raiola is full of talent and clearly on a mission.
“It’s special to be part of something that’s bigger than yourself,” he says.
It would be incredibly special for Dylan Raiola — along with his uncle, Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola — to lead the program back into the national prominence it enjoyed when Dominic Raiola (Dylan’s father) played center for the Huskers (1997-2000). Yes, that’s in the back of Dylan’s mind. It helps drive him daily.
But the talent part of the equation is immensely important. A lot of players begin their careers on a mission, but fizzle out because they simply don’t have the goods.
In that regard, Galu Tagovailoa likes the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Raiola’s quick release and ability to throw accurately without being perfectly on balance. A lot of young quarterbacks need to have their feet set to complete difficult throws.
“It’s amazing when you see kids like that — who can do what Dylan does — at that age,” the elder Tagovailoa said.
Yes, Raiola has the goods. He showed it during Saturday’s scrimmage with a 70-yard-plus scoring completion to speedy wideout Jaylen Lloyd — a perfect throw, I’m told — and several completions on third downs. He had a bunch of good throws to tight end Thomas Fidone. The offense got on a roll, Rhule said.
“On offense, it was by far the best day we’ve ever had since I’ve been here,” the coach said.
Rhule is choosing words carefully regarding QB race
Rhule is handling his team’s quarterback situation magnificently — to this point, at least — displaying the wisdom and aplomb of a veteran coach. He’s portrayed a three-man competition in which nobody has gained a major upper hand over a sustained period of time.
Heinrich Haarberg, a junior from Grand Island, Nebraska, was 5-3 as the Huskers’ starter last season, and Raiola and Daniel Kaelin (Bellevue West) are the touted freshmen.
Haarberg, whose strength is his running ability, was the second-best QB on Saturday, I’m told.
“I think Heinrich’s development as a passer is light years ahead of where it was,” Rhule said following the 120-play scrimmage as he praised all three of his scholarship signal-callers.
“I’d prefer to have (the QB competition) go (awhile) because I think one of the biggest things that you have to see is how quarterbacks handle frustration,” the coach said.
“I want them to fight for it and earn it,” he added.
Such an approach tends to bring out the best in competitors.
In Raiola’s case, his best offerings have a chance to become a series of eye-popping displays on autumn Saturdays, such is his level of talent and desire to achieve.
If Rhule’s approach indeed brings out Raiola’s best, he’ll win the job.
It certainly appears to be heading in that direction.
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