Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola is making significant progress heading into his sophomore season, according to head coach Matt Rhule.
“He is ten steps ahead of where he was, and where he was was pretty cool,” Rhule said Tuesday.
Raiola arrived at Nebraska as the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the country, generating expectations not seen for a Cornhuskers player in decades.
The freshman signal-caller completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 2,819 yards and 13 touchdowns during his debut season.
Rhule has been impressed with Raiola’s development this spring, particularly with his pocket presence.
“Even like a day today when there’s no pads… his movement in the pocket is excellent,” Rhule said. “His ability to play the next play and move on, his checks, his knowing what he’s seeing coverage-wise.”
The sophomore quarterback has also taken on more leadership responsibilities during spring practice.
“I have really enjoyed watching him coach the other quarterbacks while they are out there,” Rhule added.
Nebraska will look to improve on last season’s performance as Raiola enters his second year in the program with a full season of experience under his belt.
The Cornhuskers will face an expanded Big Ten schedule this fall following conference realignment.
Sports Illustrated first reported Rhule’s comments about Raiola’s development.
