When the Dylan Raiola era ended at Nebraska, it was also the official end of the Raiola era for the Huskers in general. Just weeks earlier, NU had fired his uncle, Donovan, and his brother Dayton decommitted. As it turns out, the hostage situation that was the Raiola era is still creating aftershocks for the future of the program.
The younger Raiola was very obviously a package deal with his brother, as the 2026 quarterback’s only Power 4 offer was from the Cornhuskers. That was underlined when predictions arose that he would join Dylan at Oregon as a walk-on who might even change his position to tight end.
The big problem with Nebraska putting all its eggs in the Dylan Raiola basket is that it couldn’t pursue any other quarterbacks in Dayton’s class until a week before signing day, when he pulled back on his pledge.
Jett Thomalla’s Alabama rise spotlights Nebraska’s QB recruiting gap during Dylan Raiola era
Among the quarterbacks the Huskers didn’t pursue because of Dayton being locked in from an early date was Millard South signal caller Jett Thomalla. Not really recruited at all by Matt Rhule and his staff, Thomalla initially committed to Iowa State and then flipped to Alabama…