Matt Rhule and Nebraska pulled off one of the biggest moves of the 2024 recruiting cycle by flipping five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola from Georgia just a couple days before the start of the early signing period. The top quarterback in the class brings an immediate impact to the Huskers before officially stepping on campus in Lincoln. Raiola will become the first five-star prospect to sign with Nebraska in the 247Sports era (since 2010) and just the third during the internet era of recruiting.
In fact, Raiola is the highest-rated commit for the Huskers in the modern era, surpassing former Nebraska stars such as Ndamukong Suh, Baker Steinkuhler and Marlon Lucky.
Raiola has a close connection to the Huskers. His father, Dominic Raiola, was a two-time All-Big 12 offensive lineman and Rimington Award winner in 2000 at Nebraska. Dylan’s uncle, Donovan Raiola, is the offensive line coach for the Huskers.
Below is a closer look at the 10 highest-rated commits for Nebraska football during the modern recruiting era:
10. JASON RICHENBERGER, ILB, 2000 CLASS — 0.9747 RATING
Recruiting Class: 2000
247Sports Composite Rating: 4-star | 0.9747 rating | No. 68 overall | No. 5 ILB
Summary: Jason Richenberger joined the Huskers out of Liberty (Mo.) in the 2000 recruiting class. He spent two seasons at Nebraska before transferring to Northern Iowa in 2002. During the 2001 season, Richenberger totaled six tackles in just eight games played at linebacker. Richenberg was the No. 2 overall prospect in Missouri for the 2000 class.
9. TURNER CORCORAN, OT, 2020 CLASS — 0.9748 RATING
Recruiting Class: 2020
247Sports Composite Rating: 4-star | 0.9748 rating | No. 48 overall | No. 4 OT
Summary: The only active player on the list of top-10 highest-rated all-time signees for Nebraska, offensive tackle Turner Corcoran made 30 consecutive starts for the Big Red before suffering a season-ending injury in October. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound lineman made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2021 when he started the final 11 contests of that season. Corcoran is expected to return to the Huskers in 2024 as he looks to remain healthy. Corcoran ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in Kansas for the 2020 recruiting class and signed with Nebraska over additional offers from Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma and several others.
8. TYJON LINDSEY, WR, 2017 CLASS — 0.9769 RATING
Recruiting Class: 2017
247Sports Composite Rating: 4-star | 0.9769 rating | No. 50 overall | No. 7 WR
Summary: Tyjon Lindsey was part of the 2017 recruiting class for Nebraska that finished top 25 nationally under then-head coach Mike Riley. He spent just two seasons with the Huskers before transferring to Oregon State midway through the 2018 campaign. During his time in Lincoln, Lindsey had 15 receptions for 98 yards while appearing in 16 games. The former four-star wide receiver was much more productive with the Beavers, totaling 917 yards and nine touchdowns on 75 receptions from 2019-2022. He also rushed for three touchdowns and had a touchdown pass during the 2020 season at Oregon State. Lindsey was considered to be the No. 1 prospect in Nevada coming out of national powerhouse Las Vegas Bishop Gorman.
7. CORTNEY GRIXBY, CB, 2004 CLASS — 0.9773 RATING
Recruiting Class: 2004
247Sports Composite Rating: 4-star | 0.9773 rating | No. 53 overall | No. 5 CB
Summary: Cortney Grixby did not redshirt his first season at Nebraska in 2004, instead playing in all 11 games for the Huskers, while making a pair of starts at cornerback. Grixby became a multi-year starter in the secondary, playing in a total of 49 career games with 37 starts. He recorded 147 total tackles, including 113 solo stops. His 32 career pass breakups ranked sixth all-time in Nebraska history after the 2007 season. Grixby also snagged four interceptions. He was a three-time All-Big 12 honorable mention. Grixby was the No. 1 overall recruit in the Cornhusker State for the 2004 cycle.
6. NDAMUKONG SUH, DT, 2005 CLASS — 0.9797 RATING
Recruiting Class: 2005
247Sports Composite Rating: 4-star | 0.9797 rating | No. 47 overall | No. 6 DT
Summary: One of the all-time Nebraska football greats also happens to rank among the highest-rated signees. Ndamukong Suh grabbed just about individual postseason award but the Heisman Trophy during his incredible 2009 season with the Huskers. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting despite being named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, becoming the first defensive player to receive the award. Suh ended his five-year college career at Nebraska with 215 total tackles, including 49.5 for loss with 24 sacks and 41 quarterback hurries. He added 15 passes defensed, four interceptions — two of which were returned for touchdowns — three forced fumbles and six blocked kicks. Suh was the No. 1 overall prospect in Oregon for the 2005 recruiting class.
5. BAKER STEINKUHLER, OT, 2008 CLASS — 0.9812 RATING
Recruiting Class: 2008
247Sports Composite Rating: 4-star | 0.9812 rating | No. 34 overall | No. 6 OT
Summary: Baker Steinkuhler was recruited by Nebraska to play either side of the line, but ultimately found his place as a multi-year starter at defensive tackle. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound defensive lineman played in 51 career games for the Huskers, putting together a standout senior campaign in 2012 before suffering an injury in the regular-season finale. Steinkuhler finished with 150 total tackles, including 16 for loss with eight sacks. He also had six passes defensed. The home-grown prospect was the No. 1 overall recruit in Nebraska for the 2008 class coming out of Lincoln Southwest.
4. AARON GREEN, RB, 2011 CLASS — 0.9815 RATING
Recruiting Class: 2011
247Sports Composite Rating: 4-star | 0.9815 rating | No. 33 overall | No. 5 RB
Summary: Aaron Green spent just one season at Nebraska before transferring to TCU for the final three years of his college career. During his time with the Big Red, Green rushed for 105 yards on 24 carries. Green panned out to be a highly-productive ball carrier for the Horned Frogs, rushing for 2,426 yards and 20 touchdowns on 445 carries. He rushed for nearly 1,300 yards as a senior in 2015. The former San Antonio (Texas) Madison standout held additional offers from Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and USC coming out of high school.
3. CHRIS SEPTAK, TE, 2000 CLASS — 0.9833 RATING
Recruiting Class: 2000
247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star | 0.9833 rating | No. 38 overall | No. 1 TE
Summary: Chris Septak is the highest-rated all-time signee at Nebraska to come from within state lines. The Omaha (Neb.) Millard West star was the No. 1 tight end in the 2000 class and is one of only three five-star prospects to ever sign with the Huskers. Unfortunately, his college career was plagued with injuries and his impact on the field was minuscule.
2. MARLON LUCKY, RB, 2005 CLASS — 0.9950 RATING
Recruiting Class: 2005
247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star | 0.9950 rating | No. 14 overall | No. 2 RB
Summary: Expectations were high for five-star running back Marlon Lucky upon his arrival at Nebraska in 2005 as the No. 2 running back recruit in the nation. Lucky started to make an impact as a true freshman with 43 carries for 129 yards in a backup role. In 2006, he was part of a four-man committee in the backfield and tallied 728 yards and six touchdowns on only 141 attempts. His best year by far with the Huskers came in 2007 when Lucky surpassed 1,000 yards rushing and 700 yards receiving. He scored 12 combined touchdowns. His production dipped slightly in 2008 with the emergence of Roy Helu Jr. Still, Lucky finished his college career among the top-20 in Nebraska history in rushing yards, while rankings top 5 in receptions and all-purpose yards. The North Hollywood (Calif.) Senior prospect was previously the highest-rated signee in Huskers history before a new No. 1 emerged in the 2024 class.
1. DYLAN RAIOLA, QB, 2024 CLASS — 0.9965 RATING
Recruiting Class: 2024
247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star | 0.9965 rating | No. 6 overall | No. 2 QB
Summary: Nebraska made a massive move in the week leading up to the Early Signing Period with a push for five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola out of Buford (Ga.) The No. 2 overall recruit in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports, made a late flip from Georgia and will soon join the Huskers, where his father, Dominic Raiola, was a two-time All-Big 12 selection and Rimington Trophy recipient in 2000. The overall impact of the decision is expected to be immediate for second-year coach Matt Rhule and Nebraska, which is looking to end a streak of seven-consecutive losing seasons in Lincoln.