Dylan Raiola enters the 2025 season with a mix of promise, growth, and the weight of high expectations as Nebraska’s starting quarterback. Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen see big strides in Raiola’s development. Holgorsen, who took over the offense late last season, described Dylan’s transition from being a bit overwhelmed as a freshman to now acting like ‘an additional coach’ on the field. He also hired a personal chef and joined strength and conditioning programs, which helped him become leaner and more agile. So all in all, the Huskers’ offence is looking to be a good catch with Raiola leading it.
But still, there are certain aspects he can temper, which have become a glaring factor in practice sessions. As co-offensive coordinator and Quarterbacks coach, Glenn Thomas highlights it in the Nebraska Football fall practice report. Dylan Raiola’s habit of processing and anticipating has been too much during his practice sessions. Now, for those of you who don’t know. It’s when a quarterback’s brain works so fast trying to read the defense that sometimes he jumps the gun. He anticipates the wrong thing and tries to get through his progressions too quickly without always taking the best available throw.
“I think, you know, if you’re dealing with a 10-year vet in the NFL. I think you’re still talking in those terms,” Thomas said during the press conference. “Whether it be footwork, pocket movement, or seeing post-snap confirmation as far as coverage.” Dylan, though young, is already showing signs of mastering these parts of the game, but like many promising players, he sometimes lets his mind run a little too fast. “He’s such a good processor, anticipation sometimes too much, right?” Thomas added. “Like if he doesn’t anticipate something’s going to happen, trying to get through the progression, just take what’s there, you know? And I think he’s in a great spot. We had a couple of really nice plays on schedule. Slid in the pocket, made a couple of plays off-schedule today. So, the ability to do both of those, you know, creates some hopefully some issues on defense.”
Matt Rhule Dylan Raiola. Credits – USA Today
ESPN’s Aaron Murray and other analysts alike have pointed to flaws in Raiola’s mechanics, particularly his footwork, and his recurring early interception was noted as a result of being caught between two reads. Raiola is so quick in reading defenses that he occasionally tries to force the pace. The core issue here is that his brain races ahead, trying to predict what the defense might do instead of calmly reacting to what the defense actually presents in the moment. And Thomas is emphasizing the need for patience. That means settling into a rhythm, working through progressions calmly, and making smart decisions instead of forcing things. If Dylan pre-judges a play and throws based on anticipation rather than real-time reads, it can lead to inaccurate passes, turnovers, or missed opportunities. Analyst David Pollack also highlighted that preventing negative plays. Those costly errors born from forcing things are something Dylan needs to improve on for the 2025 season.
And especially as Nebraska tries to get more competitive in the Big Ten. One clear example came in Nebraska’s tough overtime loss to Illinois. Raiola showed flashes of brilliance that night. He racked up 297 yards and three touchdowns. But then a critical interception happened when he threw a deep pass intended for Isaiah Neyor. And that was snatched away by a cornerback. Nebraska’s coach Matt Rhule defended that throw, saying it was a perfect placement. But it underscored the risk of trying to force the timing or expecting a certain defensive reaction that didn’t quite match up in real time. Last year in September, Raiola spoke to the media about his 59-yard touchdown pass against Northern Iowa. “Just trusted my technique,” he said. “Bad play. Bad throw…you just learn from it and you move on.” Thomas has seen this with Dylan. He noted that while Raiola made some nice on-schedule throws and played off-schedule well by sliding in the pocket and extending plays, his challenge remains not to get so far ahead in his mind that he misses easier, safer options.
Learning from the best in the business
Dylan Raiola is on a serious mission to reach the elite level of NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes. Over the offseason, Raiola took a big step in his development by training with the very same coaches who helped shape Mahomes into the Super Bowl MVP he is today. Raiola is working with Patrick Mahomes’ quarterbacks coach Jeff Christensen and performance coach Bobby Stroupe. He is focusing intensely on how he moves in the pocket, thinks through plays, and makes smart decisions under pressure.
This experience has fundamentally shifted how Dylan views the quarterback position. He’s learned that being a great QB isn’t just about arm strength or athleticism. It’s a mental game filled with strategy, leadership, and smart creativity. Raiola is actively trying to emulate Mahomes by making sharp, off-script throws and extending plays with mobility. At just 18, Dylan wants to follow the blueprint of an all-time great, embracing Mahomes as a role model for everything from football IQ to on-field leadership.
What’s especially cool is how Raiola is chasing Mahomes’ mental approach. He talks about learning smart creativity and how to stay calm and focused when the pressure is on, skills that Mahomes is widely known for. Raiola even crafted his offseason routine to keep this momentum going. He committed to continued specialized training during the season and next offseason, always pushing for more consistency and leadership ability. This is huge for Nebraska. Dylan Raiola’s dedication to this elite-level training has fans and coaches excited because it could transform the Huskers’ offense.
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