Rhule discusses 2024 class on Early Signing Day

LINCOLN, NE - A few days before Christmas, Husker fans are getting an early present: a stacked 2024 recruiting class for the early signing period, including top ranked quarterback recruit Dylan Raiola.

Matt Rhule discussed Raiola and his skill set, and much more, on Wednesday morning.

“We understand that when you’re going through this process, knowing they [recruits] are in a safe place just matters so much,” Rhule said. “Very grateful to the parents, guardians, high school coaches, mentors… Everyone who’ve led these young meant to thee decisions and to the players. Grateful they’ve entrusted their future to us.”

Nebraska managed to flip quarterback Dylan Raiola from Georgia to Nebraska. Raiola is a Husker legacy, with his dad Dominic being a former All-American Husker lineman, who went on to have a 14 year NFL career. His uncle Donovan, is the current offensive line coach for the Big Red.

Per 24/7 recruiting rankings, Raiola is the No. 1 quarterback and No. 2 overall player in the 2024 class.

“Dylan called last Sunday and said ‘coach, my heart keeps telling me to come to Nebraska, can I come take another look,’ Rhule said. “I challenged him and said make sure you’re serious about this, because I don’t want this to be something that isn’t right for you. And he said no, my life has greater purpose than being the top recruit, I know what Nebraska means to my family and means to me and I want to come there.”

Rhule also believes Raiola holds the intangibles that the Husker program holds standard.

“You’ve got to come here wanting to be great at football, wanting to be great in the community and wanting to be great in school,” Rhule said. “I see all that from Dylan.. This is the very beginning of a journey. And that’s my message to all the players.”

Nebraska signed 15 recruits from in state on Wednesday as well, from Omaha to Ainsworth, including talents like Omaha Westside’s Caleb Benning and Bellevue West’s Daniel Kaelin, and four star tight end Carter Nelson from Ainsworth. A big takeaway Rhule had from recruiting across Nebraska: people are yearning to win.

“We have such a responsibility to produce a winner,” Rhule said. “Going back into those towns, reciporcating the feeling, welcoming us, it makes recruiting Nebraska a lot of fun.”

Rhule did not confirm or deny a starter at quarterback, as Nebraska brings in Raiola and Kaelin, while Heinrich Haarberg and Chubba Purdy remain on the Huskers active roster.