Nebraska Secures Commitment from QB Dylan Raiola’s Brother, Dayton

Dayton Raiola, the younger brother of Nebraska’s standout freshman Dylan Raiola, has made headlines by announcing his commitment to join the Cornhuskers. The announcement came on Sunday night, bringing excitement to fans and followers of the team.

At 5-foot-11 and weighing 215 pounds, Dayton Raiola is a junior quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class. His commitment marks the first for Nebraska in this cycle, although he is not currently featured in ESPN’s rankings for high school prospects of his class.

This season, Dayton has stepped up as the starting quarterback at Buford High School in Georgia, having taken over following his brother’s departure to college. He has successfully guided the Wolves to a strong 4-1 record so far this fall.

His commitment to Nebraska continues the family legacy at the institution. Their father, Dominic Raiola, was an accomplished player who earned All-Big 12 honors during his time with the Huskers from 1997 to 2000. He later enjoyed a lengthy 14-year career in the NFL, primarily with the Detroit Lions.

In addition to their father, the Raiola family’s presence at Nebraska is further solidified by Donovan Raiola, brother to Dominic, who has spent the last three seasons as the offensive line coach. Before this role, he had a coaching stint with the Chicago Bears. Taylor Raiola, their older sister, also contributes to the program as a graduate manager in the recruiting department.

Dayton took to social media to express his excitement, stating, “THE LEGACY CONTINUES #OHANA #COMMITTED.” This statement encapsulates the pride he feels in following in the footsteps of his family.

Dylan Raiola previously captured national attention as the top-ranked pocket passer and the 11th overall player in the 2024 recruiting class, earning him a great deal of recognition in football circles. Initially, he committed to Ohio State in May 2022 but later decided to reopen his recruitment.

On May 15, 2023, Dylan made headlines again by committing to Georgia, yet he shocked many when he flipped to Nebraska just days before the early signing period. Since then, Dylan has been officially named Nebraska’s starting quarterback as of August 21. Under his leadership, the team accomplished its first 3-0 start since 2016 before falling to Illinois in a close 31-24 overtime game.

In his first four games as a starter, Dylan has showcased his talent by completing 72.2% of his passes for a total of 967 yards, throwing eight touchdowns and only two interceptions. His performance has undoubtedly amplified the expectations around the Husker program.

Unlike Dylan, Dayton is a left-handed quarterback, adding a different dynamic to his playing style. His commitment to Nebraska follows multiple visits to the campus, which included experiences during the spring game and the Huskers’ notable victory over Colorado in Week 2.

Looking forward, Nebraska’s 2025 recruiting class is shaping up nicely. Among the premier recruits is Christian Jones, a top-100 outside linebacker, along with four other ESPN 300 commits. As of now, Nebraska’s class ranks 23rd in ESPN’s team rankings for the 2025 cycle. With a current record of 4-1, the team is preparing to take on Purdue in Week 5 after recently dropping out of the AP Top 25.