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Joel Klatt: Nebraska's Dylan Raiola Needs a 'Real Threat' at Wideout

FOX college football analyst and podcast host Joel Klatt spoke on his show Thursday morning about the Huskers' Dylan Raiola and the freshman's next steps to becoming a top-tier quarterback.

Austin Jacobsen

Sep 7, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws as he’s hit by Colorado Buffaloes defensive end BJ Green II (35) during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium.
Sep 7, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws as he’s hit by Colorado Buffaloes defensive end BJ Green II (35) during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
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Nebraska football's offensive playmakers may have more juice coming into Saturday's matchup at Indiana.

During his show Thursday morning, FOX college football analyst Joel Klatt spoke about Huskers quarterback Dylan Raiola and his assessment of the freshman so far this season. On his self-named podcast, Klatt praised Raiola's ability to improve Nebraska's offense from a season ago.

"The biggest improvement ... for Nebraska is certainly on the offensive side and it certainly lies in the hands of their quarterback - true freshman Dylan Raiola," Klatt said on the "Joel Klatt Show." "This guy is incredibly talented. I'm telling you. I knew he was just from watching games, but then you go and you watch the tape. He jumps off the tape."

Klatt continued with his thoughts about Nebraska's improved offense but was hesitant to heap more praise on to the Big Red. The "Big Noon Kickoff" guest and color analyst for FOX's premier college football time slot instead spoke about the lack of talented receivers surrounding Raiola.

"They've got a couple of guys they can throw to, but nothing that jumps, or pops, or scares you as a defense. I think that's really the only thing that's really holding back this offense," Klatt said.

The Huskers are on pace to have two receivers outperform last year's top receiving target, Billy Kemp. Kemp finished his 2023 campaign with 35 receptions for 310 yards and one touchdown, followed by tight end Thomas Fidone with 25 catches for 260 receiving yards and four scores.

Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Jahmal Banks (4) celebrates after a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers
Sep 28, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Jahmal Banks (4) celebrates after a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. / Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Through six games in 2024, transfers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor have nabbed 21 and 17 passes, respectively. Banks has chalked up 283 receiving yards with two touchdowns, while Neyor leads the team with 291 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Freshman Jacory Barney Jr. has been in the mix with 19 receptions for 149 yards while adding in seven carries for 104 yards and two scores.

Although the receiving and passing stats are much improved from a season ago, Nebraska is still in the middle of the pack nationally on offense. The Big Red average just under 27 points per game to rank No. 61, while their passing yardage per game is No. 53 (234.8). The Huskers threw for only 1,631 yards in 12 games a season ago, while Raiola himself this year has already thrown for 1,358 yards and has a completion rate of nearly 67%.

Klatt did share some compliments of the Husker offense in his closing thoughts on the Big Red.

Joel Klatt speaks on a Big Noon Kickoff pregame show before a NCAA football game
Joel Klatt speaks on a Big Noon Kickoff pregame show before a NCAA football game between Iowa and Ohio State, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. / Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

"Isaiah Neyor is a pretty good player on the outside. They've got decent players on the outside - but not a real threat. If Raiola ever got a threat, this Nebraska team would be incredible," Klatt said.

Klatt added that Banks, Neyor, and the rest of the receiving corps are "serviceable" and that Raiola's talent with his deep throws and accuracy makes Nebraska "dangerous enough." Klatt finalized his point by saying the freshman quarterback's ability to avoid turnovers has been the key reason the Huskers are 5-1.

Klatt will be in the booth Saturday in Bloomington to call the Nebraska-Indiana contest for FOX, and he will also appear on the pregame "Big Noon Kickoff" show. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CDT.

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Austin Jacobsen
AUSTIN JACOBSEN

Austin Jacobsen is a radio broadcaster and former Sports Director in Central Nebraska. He has seen the Cornhusker state from all corners; growing up in the Panhandle, completing his college degree in Kearney, working in the rural Sandhills, and now residing in Omaha. Austin is a statewide, regional, and national radio award winner and can usually be found at a high school football field on Friday nights and tuning in to the Huskers wherever they travel. If he is not on the road, Austin enjoys movie dates with his girlfriend and their dog, Ava.

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