Almost from day one, Dylan Raiola has been in the spotlight. The Nebraska QB delivered a solid freshman season—2,819 passing yards, 13 TDs, and a 67% completion rate. He also led the Huskers to their first bowl win in 10 years. Most would call that a success. However, not Pete Thamel. In a surprising twist, Raiola found an unexpected ally during a recent chat between Thamel and ESPN’s Pat McAfee. The discussion took a turn, giving the young QB some much-needed credit and fresh perspective. But what did they say?

Well, Thamel questioned the success of true freshman QBs on the Pat McAfee Show, using Dylan Raiola as an example. But McAfee wasn’t having it. He fired back with full confidence in Nebraska’s star QB. “I’m high on the Nebraska Cornhuskers after getting a chance to meet these boys and chit chat with them one-on-one,” said McAfee. Adding, “That Dylan kid was, it was great. Like he was, I enjoyed the way he was operating. He just has like a star kind of vibe about him.” He didn’t hold back, further saying, “I think Dylan Raiola is going to be a star next year.” So, despite Thamel’s doubts, McAfee’s belief in Raiola’s potential is crystal clear.

While ESPN’s Pat McAfee doubled down on his belief in Dylan Raiola’s star power, Nebraska Football joined the hype train, too. On May 15, the Huskers dropped a slick play-film clip of Raiola with the caption, “The Marathon Continues.” It was all gas, no brakes. But Raiola’s response? Subtle, yet powerful. He re-shared the video with just two emojis: “🐢🏁.” A simple message with deep meaning—slow and steady wins the race. The marathon mindset is locked in, and Raiola’s letting his game do the talking.

But it’s not just Pat McAfee riding the Dylan Raiola hype wave—his head coach is all in, too. Matt Rhule called his young QB “10 steps ahead” of where he was last year. With a full offseason under his belt and a tighter grip on the playbook, Raiola looks ready to launch. McAfee echoed that confidence, predicting a breakout season on the horizon. Honestly, all signs point to something big brewing in Lincoln.

As Raiola’s future with the Huskers gains momentum, concerns about his weight have taken an unexpected turn.

The fate of Dylan Raiola with the Huskers

Dylan Raiola’s been carrying grown-man pressure all offseason. However, the buzz? Less QB1, more retired tight end. At 6’3″ and 230 pounds, some fans joked he looked one Popeye’s biscuit away from switching positions. Social media even drew Mahomes’ ‘dad bod’ comparisons. But the narrative flipped on the May 12th episode of the Ultimate CFB Show. Host Emma Proud hit Bud Crawford with a surprise—Clint Brewster’s “Top 10 Breakthrough QBs for 2025” list. Raiola cracked the top five. That’s when Crawford leaned in and raised an eyebrow.

“I’m going Dylan Raiola, the Nebraska quarterback, at number one as my most improved player at that position in 2025,” declared Bud Crawford with confidence. Then he laid it out—three bold reasons. “First, he changed his body this offseason. He dropped some weight,” noted Crawford. The transformation wasn’t just for show. “He’s going to be more of a run threat this season—at least escapability-wise—that he did not have as a true freshman.” So, from heavy talk to light feet, Raiola’s comeback arc is just getting started.

Now, Raiola is turning heads ahead of 2025—and Brad Crawford isn’t holding back. He’s calling the Nebraska gunslinger the most improved QB heading into the new season. “He changed his body,” stated Crawford, noting Raiola’s leaner build gives him a new edge: escapability. Once just a pocket passer, now he’s built for off-script magic. Crawford kept the hype rolling, stating, “There’s a new OC in town… Dana Holgorsen. He’s going to settle down Dylan Raiola a little bit.” Now, new body, new playbook—Raiola’s ready to cook.