You’ve probably seen Dylan Raiola‘s name blowing up again. And that’s to do with his physique. That conversation hit a new level after Matt Rhule’s “240-pound” comment. The internet took that and ran. But what did everyone miss? The dude’s serious efforts to get in shape – like 6 AM boxing sessions, cardio after lifts, and even more conditioning in the evening. The 230-pound QB admitted, “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.” But while all eyes are on his fitness journey, and while his family came in strong to defend him, the HC was working behind the scenes on something that might shape Nebraska’s future.
If you’re a Huskers’ fan, this is one of those moves that makes you go “Finally!” If you don’t know him yet, you’re about to. He’s a 6’1, 170-pound, do-it-all athlete out of Omaha North and the top player in the state of Nebraska in the 2026 recruiting class. He’s been racking up offers left and right — Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, among others. But now it’s Nebraska’s turn. In a new episode of Wilson Dittman Sports on April 4, the Nebraska insider confirmed the news. “He just finally got offered by the Big Red,” Wilson Dittman said. “You know who this is. This is Darion Jones.” This 3-star in-state CB is high on most fans’ lists and for all the good reason.
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) and defensive tackle Ty Hamilton (58) celebrate a tackle by defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (91) during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
This past Tuesday, Darion Jones showed up to watch the Huskers practice. Why? Because his older brother Donovan Jones is already on the team. “I’ve always wanted to be like him and play with him,” Darion said. “Or against him. Either one.” See, the passion is evident. So by Thursday, Matt Rhule finally made the call and handed him the full, committable offer. The HS kid had eight interceptions last season, with the pick 6 leading the state. He also racked up five pass breakups, 47 total tackles, one sacks, and one FF. The multi-positional player also returned kicks and had four total return TDs. Oh, and on the offense? 45 catches for 800 yards and 11 scores. That’s a video game stat line.
“It should not have took this long for Nebraska to offer him,” Dittman voiced his surprise. “It just shouldn’t have… I’m happy that they finally did because again, he’s just a phenomenal prospect. He’s so speedy. He has great ball skills. You needed to keep him home.” And maybe, we can bet he’s Lincoln-bound. Darion Jones has got visits lined up — Kansas State on April 12, Iowa on April 18. But he’s also coming back to NU for the spring game on April 26, and his decision will drop on his mom’s birthday on July 4. Meanwhile, Dylan Raiola’s name is dragged again.
Dylan Raiola gets family support amidst growing speculation
All it took was one tight workout video and suddenly, everyone’s concerned about his weight! When Matt Rhule stated, “He won’t be a good quarterback at 240 pounds,” it wasn’t to call his QB out. But trolls had a field day and suddenly his weight was the lead story. But what people forget is that Dylan Raiola broke records as a freshman — 2,819 passing yards, 13 TDs, and 67.1% completion rate, the best in program history for a first year QB.
Even his dad, O-line coach Donovan Raiola, had his back, 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? … I think his leadership, you can hear his voice a little more.” Through it all, Dylan Raiola just kept grinding, going all-out in the offseason. He’s got the tools, the fire, and the future.
But this week, the real spotlight is on Darion Jones. And if Nebraska plays this right, the Jones brothers might just be holding it down together in Memorial Stadium for years to come.
The post Matt Rhule Makes Move for Nebraska Athlete’s 3-star Brother After Dylan Raiola Gains Family Support Amid Fitness Concerns appeared first on EssentiallySports.