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Matt Rhule Declares Dylan Raiola ‘Ready to Go’ for Saturday Against USC

The Huskers’ quarterback, injured two weekends ago against UCLA, will be running the offense with new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen calling the plays.

Joe Hudson

Quarterback Dylan Raiola hands the ball off to running back Dante Dowdell against UCLA.
Quarterback Dylan Raiola hands the ball off to running back Dante Dowdell against UCLA. / Amarillo Mullen
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Nebraska football's new offensive coordinator will have the Huskers' No. 1 quarterback at his disposal Saturday in Los Angeles.

Head coach Matt Rhule said Thursday that Dylan Raiola, who left the Nov. 2 game against UCLA with a back injury, will be "ready to go" against the Southern California Trojans. It will be Dana Holgorsen's first game calling the plays as Nebraska tries to inject some life into a struggling offense.

Below are Kaleb Henry's notes and video from Rhule's press conference Thursday. Scroll down for more coverage.

  • "Dylan's ready to go." Had a good week of practice.
  • Heinrich Haarberg and Danny Kaelin have practiced well.
  • USC is extremely talented, especially with big cornersbacks.
  • Lincoln Riley is a great offensive mind. Have to stop the run.
  • Trojans' backup QB brings a bunch of experience from UNLV and is dangerous.
  • "Dana's stepped right in," he says of Dana Holgorsen as offensive coordinator.
  • Change at OC is a fresh perspective on what the team is doing, but the players are still getting coached by the same guys, not having to make big adjustments.
  • Holgorsen is likely to be in the box but no decision made yet. "Wouldn't be surprised" to see him in the box or on the sideline.
  • USC is a challenge both schematically and personnel-wise, even on special teams.
  • Huskers are "pretty healthy."
  • Rhule has been flexible with what Holgorsen needs for any changes being made.
  • Holgorsen also adapting to what Nebraska has. "He sees the opportunity."
  • Transition has been "smooth" and "seamless."

Coverage

Matt Rhule and Dana Holgorsen, 2017
Oct 21, 2017; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Matt Rhule (left) and West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Dana Holgorsen talk at midfield prior to a game at McLane Stadium. / Ray Carlin-Imagn Images

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Joe Hudson
JOE HUDSON

Joe Hudson has operated a Husker-related website since 1995 and joined forces with David Max to form HuskerPedia (later renamed HuskerMax) in 1999. It began as a hobby during his 35 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, a career that included stints at the Lincoln Star, Omaha World-Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer and Denver Post. In Denver, Joe was chief of the copy desk during his final 16 years at the Post. He is proud to have been involved in Pulitzer Prize-winning projects in both Philadelphia and Denver. Joe has been a Nebraska football fan since the mid-1960s during his childhood in Omaha. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in journalism and economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976. He resides a few freeway exits north of Colorado Springs and enjoys bicycling and walking his dogs in his spare time. You can reach him at joeroyhud@outlook.com.

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