The lineage of footballers in the Raiola clan remains strong. 14-year NFL vet Dominic Raiola has meshed his genetics and acumen to get a bit of a conveyor belt going. Elder son Dylan Raiola’s escapades out in Lincoln are well-documented. His other son, Dayton Raiola, shall soon carry a tradition etched in the fabric of modern Nebraska football. Both Dominic and Dylan donned Husker red, and now the class of ‘26’s Dayton too is committed to the program. Today, one more tradition has been passed down this athletic ancestry.

Apart from lining up for the Huskers, Dominic and Dylan Raiola also have both featured in the Polynesian Bowl. The game serves as an exhibition showcase of some of the country’s best high school talent. Being a Hawaii native, Dominic Raiola has a particular affinity for this event. The likes of Marcus Mariota, Tua Tagovailoa and more recently Dillon Gabriel also have one thing in common. They put Hawaii on the CFB map for the masses. But before them, it was this Bowl game and Polynesian Football HOFer Dominic Raiola carrying the flag for the island state. Now, Dayton has also been bestowed with the honor of partaking in this showcase.

The 3-star QB recruit received word of his selection for the 2026 iteration of the Polynesian Bowl in the early hours of January 30th. “It felt pretty special to be invited,” said Dayton Raiola in the wake of the news. “It’s a full circle moment for me because my dad is in the Hall of Fame, and I got to watch my brother play in the game last year, so it’s pretty cool.” Speaking of his brother, Dylan Raiola was naturally filled with pride. Not only is Dayton poised to join Nebraska as a freshman when Dylan enters his own junior year. He’s now carrying the baton for the family. He took to social media to share his delight with the social media verse.

Dylan Raiola relayed the “polynesianbowl” handle’s own announcement of his brother’s selection to his IG story. Alongside this, he wrote “Yea lil bro!!! Proud of u my guy!! Just the beginning🤙🌺” Befittingly, he posted this along with the song “Let’s do it again” by Hawaiian-origin singer J Boog. Keeping with the themes of geographical ancestry as well as the fact this will be the 3rd time a Raiola graces the occasion. This revelation must’ve gone some way to alleviate the pressure Dylan Raiola has been under. 

Dylan Raiola began his Nebraska career with pomp. Through the first 5 games, he threw  9 touchdowns to go with merely 2 picks. Great platform to build on after the uncanny Patrick Mahomes resemblance caught on. However, he has since turned into the 2024 version of Patrick- sans the clutch 4th quarters. 2 TDs and 8 INTs in the following 5 games later, a regression was apparent. He did pick it up down the stretch and not only made Bowl eligibility but left Husker Nation with hope for next season. Alas, one Nebraska insider has spewed an indictment of Raiola and a fatal flaw in his development as a passer. Being a doppelganger of the best player in the sport doesn’t help his case here either.

Dylan Raiola catches flak for not imbibing Patrick Mahomes’ skill, merely likeness!

Different players have different throwing mechanics. The sport has come far enough to thwart partisan stigmas about how a pretty throw translates to a better throw. However, one very conventional facet of quarterback play holds true through different eras, and always will. Timing is the key to the whole operation. It’s not hyperbolic to say that it’s probably the most important intangible for a quarterback. Being even marginally off the requisite level with your instinctive timing of throws can make or break careers. It’s been alleged that Dylan Raiola has yet to get his timing on lock.

Nebraska alum Adam Carriker brought Sean Callahan on his show, ‘Carriker Chronicles’, to discuss Dylan. He said, “I want to see the football get out of [Dylan Raiola’s] hands quicker. You watch the guys in the NFL—they don’t hold the football that long. Mahomes, Joe Burrow—they’re getting the football out quick, which tells you they understand what they’re looking at at a high level.” Raiola is only entering his sophomore year, but that hasn’t absolved him of criticism on this occasion.

Callahan proceeded to say, “I want to see mobility too…What did Patrick Mahomes do? He used his legs in the big games, in the big moments. Can Dylan Raiola maybe drop 10 to 15 pounds, trim up a little bit, and get that extra step to convert those third-and-eight runs? Because I do think that is the difference in finishing a game off.” On the topic of mobility, Carricker is also showing concern over one facet of Raiola’s play with regard to using his legs.

This is a paradox of Dylan Raiola’s own doing in some ways. If he wants to avoid being compared to Mahomes, he probably needs to steer away from this lore. Instead, he was in the Chiefs’ dressing after the AFC Championship game. He’ll seek to work on this perceived deficiency in his game this off-season with OC Dana Holgorsen. In the immediate, he can revel in the joy that Dayton has brought about to the family.