Freshman sensation Dylan Raiola has been at the top of discussions, living his lifelong dream so far. The standout QB started off his embarking victory streak for the Cornhuskers, rolling to an amazing scorecard against UTEP in the Memorial Stadium. A surreal experience for a man who has his roots tied in football. Thanks to the supreme athletic DNA of his father, Dominic Raiola, a former NFL great. However, taking this momentum further against Colorado Buffs, Northern Iowa, and Purdue, the young phenom kept on becoming the best asset Rhule could ask for. A little hiccup against Illinois, but that’s expected of a freshman! That said, it’s not just on the field Raiola has been showcasing his prowess. Rather, his highly impactful addition is positively shifting the paradigm of the recruiting scene in Nebraska.

Huskers’ lead publisher, Sean Callahan, in the latest edition of the On3 Recruits podcast, elaborated on Raiola’s contribution to the team’s recruitment status in the year 2024. ”So, they’ve had a great opportunity to sell what they’re going to be and show what some of these freshmen have been able to do. And obviously, Dylan Raiola, I mean, he sells Nebraska right now as well as anybody” said Sean, who got seconded by the host, Josh, who dubbed the second-highest rated player as ”the walking billboard of Nebraska recruiting. ”

Dylan has a deeply stiched familial history with the Huskers. His father, Dominic, used to be one of the shining All-America centers at Nebraska until 2000. Dominic’s brother and Dylan’s uncle, Donovan, is all ready to step into another brand new (third) season in 2024 as the Nebraska offensive line coach. So, the 19-year-old’s eventual journey from Ohio State to the Huskers seems nothing but a seamless transition. Nebraska has always been a home to the five-star QB due to frequent visits to the program in his childhood. Now, as he permanently penned the deal with his father’s former recruiter, the spotlight is on all the values he added to the game, roster, and recruiting class.

To chisel out a few instances, Daniel Kaelin snubbed Missouri for Nebraska within a few days after Raiola took his prowess to the Huskers. Kaelin has been equally instrumental in moving the ladder higher in the mid-June surge, inviting a few more standout talents (Isaiah McMorris) to the team. For now, the question is: Can these loaded recruits do what is needed for another breathtaking win against Rutgers Scarlet Knights this Saturday?

How does Dylon Raiola deem the Huskers’ week 6 challenger? 

Rutgers will head to Lincoln with a 4-0 record overall and 1-0 in the conference. The Scarlet Knights had their ego boosted after defeating Washington Huskies 21-18 in their Big Ten opener last Friday. Rutgers has been off to making history, reaching its fifth straight win in the season opener for the first time since the 2006 team. If they can walk away with the upper hand over the Cornhuskers from Memorial Stadium, they can aim for a Top 25  entry after a long drought since 2012.

But Raiola and the team are up there, not leaving an inch of space. But as per a harsh reality check, the Huskers need to improve their defense. It was badly exposed and showed some concerning ambiguity during a humiliating home defeat to Illinois.

Raiola, the genetic Nebraska talent, regardless, chose to dish his best while not underestimating the opponent. ”I think they’re an experienced group. They play really hard and do a lot of things right. They’re not going to make too many mistakes. It’ll be a good test for us to see where we’re at.”