Dylan Raiola’s Weight Concerns Take a Surprising Turn as Matt Rhule’s Biggest Worries Get Settled

Dylan Raiola’s got grown-man pressure on his back. All offseason, the whispers were getting louder: Is that Raiola or a retired tight end? Raiola was low-key built like a quarterback who hadn’t met a salad in months. He was just one Popeye biscuit away from being a tight end. Standing at 6’3” and listed at 230 pounds, folks were comparing his look to Patrick Mahomes’ “dad bod” phase. But unlike Mahomes, Raiola hadn’t dropped a single college dime yet. Not the best time for a viral “he gained weight” thread to drop. But plot twist—Raiola’s been cooking behind the scenes. Literally and figuratively.

So here’s what actually went down…

On the May 12th episode of Ultimate College Football Show, Emma Proud threw Bud Crawford a curveball. The convo? Clint Brewster’s “Top 10 Breakthrough QBs for 2025.” Dylan Raiola landed fifth on the list, and that’s when Crawford raised an eyebrow. “I’m going Dylan Raiola, the Nebraska quarterback, at number one as my most improved player at that position in 2025. I’ll give you three reasons why: First, he changed his body this offseason. He dropped some weight. 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.”

Dylan Raiola’s made some serious strides heading into 2025, and Brad Crawford’s not sugarcoating it—he’s got the Nebraska QB pegged as the most improved at his position. First reason? Dylan Raiola reshaped his body. As a freshman, he was largely a pocket-bound passer, but with his leaner frame, he’s expected to offer enhanced escapability and off-schedule playmaking—traits critical in today’s day and age. 

Brad Crawford doubled down on Dylan Raiola’s hype train: “There’s a new OC in town for the Huskers: Dana Holgorsen. You might have heard of him. He has quite a track record of offensive success with quarterbacks. He’s going to settle down Dylan Raiola a little bit.”

Dana Holgorsen’s running the offense now, and that’s a major upgrade. Holgo’s been around the block and knows how to get the most out of his quarterbacks. Last year under Marcus Satterfield? Man, it was a mess. Too many personnel packages, too much overcomplicated lingo, and it bogged Raiola down. Holgorsen’s system should be way more QB-friendly—simpler reads, cleaner execution, and way less mental clutter. With the game slowing down for him and the scheme finally matching his skillset, Raiola might be ready to cook.

Then came reason number three: Nebraska finally got some dogs at wide receiver. Dane Key from Kentucky—50 catches, 800-yard potential. Isaiah Hunter from Cal—The WR averaged 15 yards per catch as a freshman. Now that’s ammo. So yeah, Raiola’s body may have been the talk, but it’s what’s happening inside that offense that’s fixing Matt Rhule’s headaches.

Dylan Raiola’s comeback season?

Let’s rewind real quick. Freshman Dylan Raiola led Nebraska to their first bowl game since 2016. Kid threw for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns, and yeah, 11 picks. Not flawless, but name another true freshman who had that much weight—both literal and figurative—on his shoulders. He went 7-6, held his own, and showed flashes. But in the age of social media fitness freaks, folks weren’t rating his performance. They were zooming in on his jersey’s tightness like it was a fashion show.

When head coach Matt Rhule stepped up, he tried to downplay it—but not really. “He won’t be a great quarterback at 240 pounds,” he said back in March. Translation? He’s getting thick. But Rhule clarified later, saying Raiola was holding steady at 230, and it was more of a “let’s not go further” warning. Still, the message landed. Loud and clear.

And that’s when Dylan turned his offseason into a mission. We’re talking early morning boxing workouts in February. Spring break? While folks were partying in Miami, he was hitting cardio doubles like he was training for a prize fight. In March, he told reporters, “It doesn’t change in a day. Not even a week. You just stay on it.” And if you peep the new photos—he isn’t lying. Raiola looks leaner. Faster. Ten pounds lighter.

Rhule’s tone has changed too. “His movement in the pocket, I think, is excellent,” he recently told the press. “His ability to play the next play and move on…he’s seeing the coverages.” That isn’t coach-speak. That’s straight-up approval from a guy who was side-eyeing his QB’s gut two months ago.

And don’t sleep on what Holgorsen brings to the party. This man built Case Keenum into a stat machine at Houston. He turned Geno Smith into a first-round pick at West Virginia. If there’s one guy who knows how to unlock a quarterback’s full potential, it’s Dana. And he’s not trying to run a quarterback boot camp with a dozen scripts and no rhythm. This offense is getting trimmed down just like Raiola’s waistline.

Well, nobody’s crowning Dylan Raiola a Heisman candidate off a few Instagram updates and a cleaner spring camp. But you can’t ignore the facts. Dylan Raiola’s body is leaner. His OC is elite. His weapons are better. And maybe most importantly—he’s finally being set up to succeed. Last year? That wasn’t the full Raiola experience. That was a kid thrown into a jumbled system with inconsistent play-calling and no WR1. Now? The chef’s got new tools. The kitchen’s finally organized. All he’s got to do is cook.