Dave Feit: A Silver Lining to the Blue Chip Who Got Away

Dylan Raiola chose Georgia, but Matt Rhule’s vigorous recruiting effort bodes well for Nebraska

Dylan Raiola announced his commitment to Georgia football on Monday :: Photo © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The recruitment of Dylan Raiola was always going to be an uphill climb for Nebraska. But even if/when he signs his letter of intent with Georgia, I believe Nebraska football fans should consider his recruitment a success story.

Born in May 2005, what is the best Nebraska season Dylan remembers? He would not have started kindergarten when Mack Brown held up one finger at the (almost) end of the 2009 Big XII Championship game. Maybe Bo Pelini's 2012 team (10-4 but was blown out in the Big Ten Championship) is the best he's seen. The last time NU was in in the top 10 was Mike Riley's 2016 squad that made it to #7 before limping to the finish line at 9-4.

In Dylan Raiola's world, the last time Nebraska went to a bowl game (following the 2016 season), girls still had cooties. To kids of Dylan's age, Nebraska's success in the '90s might as well be the 1890s: it is not relevant to them.

If that sounds rough, brace yourself for the data Nebraska must work with when recruiting a 5-star quarterback. Nebraska has only one quarterback taken in the NFL draft this century (Tanner Lee in 2018). The last Nebraska quarterback to complete a pass in a regular-season NFL game was Bruce Mathison in 1987.

Meanwhile, Georgia has won the last two national championships. One of their former QBs won a recent Super Bowl. Another finalist (USC) has a coach known for turning quarterbacks into Heisman Trophy winners. Currently, the greatest thing Nebraska can offer is hope and potential.

Yet, Nebraska was a finalist for the commitment of the #1 quarterback in the entire class.

Let's say it again for emphasis: this is a Nebraska recruiting success story.

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Yes, a big reason Dylan ever considered Nebraska is because his dad, Dominic, played here. While I doubt Uncle Donovan was hired - and retained - as offensive line coach solely to help land Dylan's commitment, it probably didn't hurt.

And let's face it, Nebraska didn't exactly get off to a great start with the Raiola clan.

Without getting into rumors and speculation, it is not a stretch to say that the previous staff's attempt to recruit Raiola did not go well. It has been reported that the relationship between the Raiola family and NU soured in 2022.

But new head coach Matt Rhule and his staff did not care. They worked hard to mend fences, rebuild the relationship, and make Nebraska a viable contender for a commitment. They got Raiola on campus repeatedly, visited him at every opportunity, and laid out their best pitch.

I whole-heartedly believe that Dominic Raiola wanted his son to play for his alma mater. If Dad would have had his say, Nebraska fans would have already figured out a scenario in which Dylan wins four Heisman Trophies in three seasons before becoming a No. 1 draft pick.

But parents typically let their kids decide which school is best - both for the next four years and to help them reach their future goals. Dylan chose Georgia. Frankly, it's tough to argue with that decision.

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Even without having to repair the relationship, this was always going to be an uphill battle. But Rhule embraced the challenge. In doing so, he has shown he intends to make Nebraska a player on the national scene. He has proven they're not afraid of putting in the work.

Rhule's recruiting staff should be proud of what they did. They put their best foot forward and should go into Signing Day with zero regrets. If Raiola enters the transfer portal at some point in his career, Nebraska has a strong relationship that may serve them well. In today's world, you never burn bridges (something that Husker recruitniks should remember as they seek to vent their frustrations online).

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Am I celebrating a "moral victory" with Dylan Raiola's recruitment?

Absolutely.

To me, it signals Nebraska's willingness to pursue a higher caliber of player than they've had for a while. As much as we all love walk-ons, in-state kids, and under-the-radar guys, teams made up entirely of those players have a ceiling - especially if the talent is not being fully developed.

There's a notable difference in talent level between the fourth place in the Big Ten West and a college football playoff contender. That's not my opinion: it is documented fact.

Rhule and his staff have a reputation for development, but having elite talent makes everything easier. Nebraska didn't upset Iowa last year with a gritty walk-on from a C-2 school. Instead, they got nine catches, 165 yards and two touchdowns from a former 4-star recruit who was the fastest guy on the field. Nebraska needs more talent and elite athleticism in the program.

Rhule and staff are identifying these players, building relationships and working to get them on campus to see just how amazing UNL, the city of Lincoln and the entire state of Nebraska are.

Next step: get them to sign. Winning some games this fall - or at least showing the foundation - will help a lot.

Nebraska may have fallen short in the recruitment of Dylan Raiola, but I'm encouraged for that it means for the future of the program.