Matt Rhule Takes Drastic Steps for Dylan Raiola After Breaking Silence on Weight Concerns

Matt Rhule is still feeling the 2024 sting, and honestly, who wouldn’t? A 7-6 finish? Not exactly championship material. But, like any good coach, he’s hitting “RESET,” prepping for a fresh start. And top of the list? Revamping that wide receiver room. Nebraska’s campus is a bit of a construction zone these days—new faces, old departures, and Rhule making sure the foundation stays strong.

Remember Nebraska’s pass offense in the UCLA game last season? Shattered. Dylan Raiola’s rough first half, 2 for 10 for a measly 7 yards? Ouch. The lone bright spot, a 40-yard bomb to Jacory Barney Jr., hardly salvaged the day. UCLA racked up 139 rushing yards and 219 passing yards, while the Huskers limped to 209 and 113, respectively. Rhule knows that can’t happen again. They need explosive plays, a killer WR squad to support Raiola. That’s why they’re aggressively hunting WR talent.

Enter Wilson Dittman, dropping names. First up, the potential #1 target from Florida: Jabari Brady. “Let’s get things started with arguably the number one target coming out of Florida,” Dittman says. “This is Jabari Brady out of Pompano Beach. He is 6’2″ and 210 lbs. You watch Jabari Brady on film; the first thing that you see is incredible hands. He uses height very well. He has great burst and good speed off the line at scrimmage. Honestly, very, very good route running for his age.” This guy’s a 2026 class standout. Brady’s stats? Insane. 43 catches, 864 yards, 6 touchdowns as a freshman, and he played defense. That’s talent you can’t ignore.

Brady’s got offers from the big guns—Ohio State, Florida, Miami, Oklahoma—but Nebraska’s in the fight. Daikiel Shorts made a huge impression during Brady’s February visit, laying out the Husker vision. He’s now set for an official summer visit, and Dittman’s confident: “Do not count out Daikiel Shorts here. I think Nebraska might land him.”

Next on the list?

Carrollton’s four-star wide receiver, Ryan Mosley. Ranked #31 overall WR and #24 overall player in the 2026 class. “Tall wide receiver threat out of Georgia this time, Carrolton. This is Ryan Mosley. A legit 6’4 big-body receiver. I compare him a lot to Calvin Johnson. Man, you just throw the ball up to him, and he’s going to take it and get you a touchdown,” Dittman raves. Mosley’s visiting on June 20th, but he’s got Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas A&M also vying for his attention.

But wait, there’s more!

McEachern’s four-star prospect, Nalin Scott, is also on Nebraska’s radar. “Nalin Scott has announced that he will be visiting Nebraska this summer. This is another four-star wide receiver, also from Georgia. Now, this is a speedy, speedy guy, man. Again, great acceleration, great burst. I think he’s probably the best route runner out of the three so far,” Dittman says. Rhule needs speed, and Scott’s got it in spades. But with 37 offers already, it’s going to be a battle.

Finally, there’s Iowa Colony’s four-star wide receiver, Jayden Warren, a dual-sport athlete who’s already a favorite of the Huskers’ wide receivers coach. “Then, let’s talk about a name that nobody’s really talking about, but Nebraska has a really good shot to land this time. Coming out of Texas, this is Jayden Warren. Another name that the second Daikiel Shorts got to Nebraska, he offered him,” Dittman reveals. Warren hasn’t set a visit date yet, but Dittman expects him to be in Lincoln this June.

Rhule’s determined to overhaul that WR room, and with names like Brady, Mosley, Scott, and Warren in the mix, Dylan Raiola’s got to be feeling optimistic. It’s a full-scale offensive rebuild, and Rhule’s leaving no stone unturned.

Matt Rhule is laser-focused on maximizing Dylan Raiola’s potential

Dylan Raiola’s weight is a hot topic in Nebraska, a sensitive issue that caught Matt Rhule’s attention. At 6’3″ and 230 pounds, he’s not exactly sculpted, and Rhule has made it clear he needs to be in peak condition for 2025. Rhule’s earlier comments about Raiola’s ideal weight sparked chatter, but Raiola’s committed to his fitness, and Rhule’s leaving nothing to chance.

With spring practice looming, Raiola’s crucial for Nebraska. After a seven-win season, he’s the key to taking them higher. Rhule knows this, and he’s not letting anything derail their progress. As he stated in a March 11 press conference, “He’s really working on his body composition. He won’t be a great quarterback at 240 lbs, right? So getting his body composition to where he can be fleet of foot, slide nimbly, and move within the pocket—where he can convert third downs with his feet—that’s something we’re all bought into, and he has to continue to do.”

The weight concerns flared up after a viral video showed Raiola in a tight jersey, fueling speculation he was heavier than 230. While big-framed quarterbacks like Cam Newton (6’5”, 245 pounds) bulldozed defenses, Rhule envisions a different path for his 19-year-old, targeting 225 pounds. So, will Rhule’s vision for Raiola’s physique translate to on-field victories?