Well, it appears that Dylan Raiola’s weight has shifted from a minor detail to a significant topic of discussion within Nebraska circles. At 6’3 and weighing 230 pounds, Raiola doesn’t exactly have a sculpted physique. Even Matt Rhule made it clear, saying he’s “getting his weight to the proper weight.” This remark opened the floodgates, and when Raiola’s video came out looking a little too healthy in a tight jersey, opinions began to pour in. And that made it even worse. The criticism became so intense that Raiola’s family had to intervene to defend him. Looks like there’s no way he can get off the hook!

But people tend to forget that Matt Rhule’s statement, “He won’t be a great quarterback at 240 pounds,” wasn’t about calling Dylan Raiola unfit, but the internet set him on fire. Nebraska’s head coach didn’t hold back when people started treating it as a mode to troll Raiola. He laid it out clearly, stating, “I felt really bad. I thought it was poor on some people’s part. If you went back and listened to what I said, ‘He knows he can’t be 240.’ I didn’t say he was 240. Some people ran with that, and it’s unfortunate.”  People have perceptions, and that doesn’t change immediately.

Now, it’s evident that frustration is boiling over. But Dylan Raiola is not fighting this battle alone—his family has his back. When a Huskers Online reporter asked dad Donovan Raiola how Dylan looked compared to last spring, he didn’t sugarcoat it before taking a stand for Dylan Raiola, saying,

“You know he’s still 19, right? He’s still figuring things out; he’s still a kid, but you can feel his presence a little more, right? Last year, we had a veteran, you know, a heavy team that he was just trying to gain guys’ respect. So notice him speaking up a little more. The work is still the work, right? You either do it or you don’t, but I think in that way, I think his leadership, you can hear his voice a little more.” That’s a straight fact. Despite being a freshman, Raiola led the Huskers to the bowl last season, throwing for 2,819 yards and 13 TDs with a completion rate of 67.1%.

Now, there were uncertainties with 11 interceptions, and they also fumbled the pigskin against UTEP. But that can’t surpass the fact that he is the one who threw the most yards by a freshman in the program’s history. And also had the best completion percentage by a freshman in school history. That’s not something that everyone can do, right? But for the time being, the main focus is on the game, and Raiola is making big moves in spring practice.

Head coach Matt Rhule and new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen are determined not to let history repeat itself. In 2025, their focus is not only on developing Dylan Raiola into a star but also on ensuring that the right weapons surround him to excel. One crucial piece of the puzzle is senior wide receiver Dane Key. Key’s journey shares similarities with Raiola’s.

He made a splash at Kentucky in 2022, racking up 519 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman. This early success raised high expectations. However, despite the pressure, Raiola couldn’t shake off the negative talk that began to affect him mentally.

Dylan Raiola’s take over his growing weight concerns

After Nebraska’s victory in the Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College, Dylan Raiola’s offseason training regimen took a drastic turn. He ditched the usual quarterback exercises and instead opted for a routine reminiscent of a Floyd Mayweather training camp. His mornings now began with intense weightlifting sessions and a one-mile run, while his evenings ended with exhausting sessions in the sauna, leaving him drenched in sweat. As spring practice approached, Raiola reappeared as a transformed player – leaner, faster, and stronger.

During a press conference on March 27, Raiola openly discussed the challenges of his training, admitting, “If I’m being honest, it s–ks. I’m going to just be honest. Like, you know, it’s a constant grind every day.” This transformation was not immediate; it required weeks of soreness, frustration, and mental battles before everything fell into place. However, once it did, the results spoke for themselves.

His approach was relentless. He started his day with boxing at 6 am, followed by a mile run after lifting, and then another 20-minute cardio session later in the day. Raiola described his routine, saying, “I mean I boxed every day, 6 am in the winter and then I would go right into a mile after we lifted and then I come back later in the day and do 20 more minutes. So that was the winter and spring break.”

Despite feeling like he was in a boxing camp rather than quarterback training, his efforts paid off, thanks to the support he received. Raiola expressed gratitude towards the strength and nutrition staff, as well as his dad, for their part in his success. “I’m just grateful for our strength staff, our nutrition staff, and even my dad… It’s been a team effort,” he said. Even with a short spring break, he returned almost 10 pounds lighter. Now, with a massive advancement, let’s see how things turn out for Raiola this season.