Dylan Raiola may only be entering his second season under center in Lincoln, but his freshman campaign was the kind of foundation that gets remembered for years. Throwing for nearly 2,900 yards and leading Nebraska to its first bowl win in a decade, Raiola battled through a shaky offensive line and inconsistent team play with a poise that belied his age. His flashes of brilliance weren’t just bright—they were blinding. Days ago, Raiola just gave fans another glimpse of his new tattoo. A lion, a stairway, and a dove—each symbol dripping in spiritual symbolism. “Lion: God’s COMMAND and POWER on my life / Stairway: God’s purpose; to bring people to His Kingdom / Dove: Holy Spirit.” Now it’s time to implement the core of the new ink.

Standing tall in the Cornhuskers’ training facility, Raiola shared a moment of quiet focus on social media. It was the kind of post that blended grit with gospel, and the response was instant. Captioned simply: “In my zone!”—a three-word statement packed with intent. But what really drew attention wasn’t just the caption or the image. The number of star names in the comment section was equally intriguing. His sister, TCU volleyball alum Taylor Raiola, dropped a one-word reaction that somehow said it all: “Chillllll.” DB teammate Amare Sanders chimed in, “My brudda it’s go time,” while Nebraska Cornhuskers RB Emmett Johnson simply added, “Stay locked.”

But it wasn’t just family and teammates sounding off. Dylan’s sphere of influence is stretching far beyond Memorial Stadium. Kendall Blue, the explosive guard for St. Thomas-Minnesota Tommies, jumped in with “Dat time”. While Nebraska basketball transfer Connor Essegian echoed the energy with, “Locked innn.” When a quarterback’s focus post is getting co-signed by hoopers across college basketball, you know the star status is real. Dylan Raiola is more than just QB1—he’s becoming a collegiate cultural figure, a locker-room staple across sports.

His visibility isn’t just confined to campus either. Dylan recently visited the Kansas City Chiefs locker room. Stoking the flames of constant comparisons between him and Patrick Mahomes, not just for the curly hair and off-platform throws, but the way he manipulates defenses and keeps plays alive outside the pocket. And that brand of playmaking doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by brands themselves. Dylan Raiola recently inked an NIL deal with Adidas, joining an elite group of athletes under the three-stripes banner. Signaling his crossover appeal is already being monetized before his sophomore snap.

It’s not just fans and brands, either. Pat McAfee, ESPN analyst and host of The Pat McAfee Show, made his admiration for Raiola clear after a backstage meet-up at WWE’s Monday Night Raw in Omaha. Raiola, along with head coach Matt Rhule and Emmett Johnson, crossed paths with McAfee—and left an impression. While no direct quote was shared, buzz out of that interaction made one thing loud and clear: McAfee sees something brewing in Lincoln.

Dylan Raiola is already turning heads — just ask Pat McAfee

One of the loudest and most entertaining voices in sports media, Pat McAfee, recently crossed paths with the Huskers’ young QB and came away thoroughly impressed.

“That Dylan kid was… great,” McAfee said. “I enjoyed the way he was operating. He just has like a star kind of vibe about him.” Now, McAfee doesn’t just hand out compliments for free—especially not to college sophomores. This one came with full confidence. “I think Dylan Raiola is going to be a star next year,” he declared.

Even when ESPN’s Pete Thamel brought up Dylan Raiola as an example of a freshman QB who hit some bumps in the road, McAfee wasn’t having it. He pushed back, betting big on what he sees developing in Year 2.

And it’s not just the swagger or the spotlight appeal. McAfee’s praise zeroed in on Raiola’s pedigree and grind. “He works his a– off,” he said, pointing to Raiola’s background as the “son of a coach,” and highlighting the kind of football IQ and blue-collar work ethic that coaches drool over.