Look, Matt Rhule has tackled plenty of coaching challenges this past season. But he probably didn’t expect a full-blown debate over a few extra pounds circling over Dylan Raiola, yet here we are. Nebraska’s top quarterback – Raiola – gained weight during the offseason, sparking concerns about his mobility. Despite the increased scrutiny, Coach Rhule is addressing the issue head-on with a strong defense to set the record straight and back his guy.

Well, physical conditioning remains a cornerstone of an athlete’s success in football. And for now, Dylan Raiola is the one who’s facing the most concern over his weight. Weighing 230 pounds, he’s not your typical quarterback build, and a video of him in a too-small (read: tight) jersey during practice only hurt his chances. That even urged Coach Rhule to address the entire situation, saying, “He won’t be a great quarterback at 240 pounds. Getting his body composition to one where he can be fleet of foot, where he can slide nimbly and move within the pocket, where he can convert third downs with his feet, I think that’s something that we’re all bought into, and he has to continue to do.”

But Matt Rhule even made sure that people know how hard Dylan Raiola is trying to make the changes, saying, “He’s really working on his body composition.” Raiola’s weight became a major topic of discussion, sparking a heated debate about his future. The noise got so loud that Rhule had to step in and shut it down. And he did that effortlessly on the Huskers Online YouTube channel, where he made it clear by saying,

“I thought it was really poor on some people’s parts, like if you went back and listened to what I said, I said [Dylan Raiola] knows he can’t be 240. I didn’t say he was 240, so people ran with that, and so it’s unfortunate, right? I mean, I’m very marked with how I say things. I say things a specific way, and all I said was he knows he can’t be something, but he already was and he’s done a really nice job with his body, and he’s continuing to do that. You know, he’s a big man; he’s going to be a big man.” It might seem like a lot, but 230 pounds is a weight class in which many players have thrived.

Look at Jared Lorenzen, the late Giants QB who defied expectations with his agility. At 6’4″, 280 pounds, the ‘Pillsbury Throw Boy’ moved like a guy half his size. Signed by the Giants in 2004 as an undrafted free agent who thrived in the Ultimate Indoor Football League. Even Heisman winner Cam Ward made a notable impact on the field in the 240-250-pound category. So, questioning Dylan Raiola? That’s just diabolical.

And even Matt Rhule thinks Dylan Raiola’s weight can turn things for him real quick as he says, “When I was growing up early in football, you wanted a big quarterback because they stay healthy they’re durable they don’t get pulled down in the pocket they don’t get knocked down he’s got big hands he’ll be able to you know he’ll be able to throw in all types of weather you know he’ll be able to throw so I think his size is you know he’s never going to be X.”

But it’s not like Raiola isn’t trying to make any changes. As Rhule even highlights the fact that he is doing everything under his control to take the Huskers on a championship run this season, “He’s been really focused this offseason on, ‘hey, I’m going to get myself to the right weight, get myself down to where I want to be.'” And word on the street is that Dylan Raiola is already making changes this spring practice.

Dylan Raiola’s sinking weight concerns

Look, Dylan Raiola comes from a lineage of big-bodied football players. His dad, Dominic Raiola, was a long-time NFL offensive lineman, and his uncle, Donovan Raiola, coaches Nebraska’s offensive line. Those genes explain the natural size. Even Mitch Sherman of The Athletic was quick to highlight the same fact, saying,

“First of all, it’s only 10 pounds heavier than what Dylan [Raiola] is listed on the roster. So it’s not like it’s a shock,” Sherman pointed out, taking a more measured approach. There’s also a genetic factor at play here. “Dylan’s got genetics to deal with when it comes to his body composition. His dad was an offensive lineman. His uncle [was an] offensive lineman. For some people, it’s just not as easy to maintain 220 pounds at 6’3.” But they don’t give him a free pass on mobility. Raiola needs to find a balance of power and agility if he wants to be the quarterback Matt Rhule envisions, commanding the offense at its best.

And that’s exactly what Dylan Raiola did this offseason. He attended Nebraska’s Pro Day, running routes, throwing passes, and showcasing his talent for NFL scouts. This is all part of the journey towards his NFL dream, even though he’s not eligible for the draft yet. However, his performance sparked some discussions.

The most notable aspect was not just his arm strength but also his slimmer physique, as confirmed by a Cornhuskers insider. Tim Verghese even shared a video of Raiola participating in drills, interacting with others, and adapting to the environment. When Rhule of Husker Nation noticed the clip, they reposted it with an encouraging message, “Raiola heard the message loud and clear from Rhule. Clearly has slimmed down already this offseason. Likely looks leaner by fall.”

Looks like Dylan Raiola took it pretty personally and is going to lose his weight by hook or by crook!