The Husker quarterback made a strong impression on the veteran wide receiver as he decided which school to choose.
During Matt Rhule’s interview with Pat McAfee at the NFL combine, he mentioned that quarterback Dylan Raiola and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen both told him they were «all in» the day after the gut punch to Iowa.
The quarterback showed how all in he was as a peer recruiter during that critical portal popping month of December.
Ask Dane Key. Raiola stepped up and delivered him a connection on the opening drive.
«Dylan was one of the first people to text me when I entered the portal,» the Husker senior wide receiver said Tuesday.
Obviously it meant a lot that Nebraska had also hired Daikiel Shorts as the receivers coach. Shorts had coached Key at Kentucky last year. There was trust in that teaching and how the coach would keep him continually setting the bar higher.
But among the hundreds of messages Key was receiving from interested parties after entering the portal, Raiola’s seemed to be one of those that stuck out.
OK, anyone can fire off a text or two, you say. Fair enough. Yet there was also Key’s visit to Lincoln.
«I think Dylan was with me like every second of my visit,» Key said. «I like to pay attention to the little things and if the guy throwing you the football is around you on your whole visit – most of the other schools didn’t do that.
«So I was just like, ‘Ok, this guy wants me to be here. And he wants to throw me the football. So why would I choose to not come be with a really good football player who wants to throw me the ball?'»
Strong reasoning. Strong example of the reach of Raiola. He has the kind of name recognition with other players that Nebraska has to capitalize on now, adding wins on the field with what appears on paper to be better receiving talent after additions like Key, Nyziah Hunter, Hardley Gilmore IV and a well-regarded batch of recruits.
«He’s one of the main reasons why I chose to come here because of how good of a football player Dylan is,» Key said.
That line sure jumps out.
One that maybe didn’t as much but caught my ear was when Rhule spoke about those guys who were freshmen last year – Raiola, Jacory Barney, Vincent Shavers, Willis McGahee – continuing a rise and not having a leveling off in that second season.
With all the topics on how the Huskers climb that we’ll fill time with until late August, Raiola having a sophomore emerge is what will fill the dance floor more than anything else.
In addition to the required growth he’ll need in Year 2, Raiola knows you need those special playmakers on the outside to help make it so. And as offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said in December of the quarterback’s recruiting portal, «I think he’s like every dinner when all these kids come in for the transfer portal visits.»
There’s plenty more to do to be ready to rock at Arrowhead. Rhule on Tuesday mentioned Raiola continuing to work on his body composition where he can be fleet of foot to pick up a third down or slide nimbly in the pocket. He won’t be a great QB playing at 240 pounds, the coach added.
Raiola is in the building every morning at 6 working to meet the mission ahead, his head coach has said.
«Last year as a highly recruited freshman I think at this time you saw him trying to keep his voice quiet and just earn everyone’s respect,» Rhule added on Tuesday. «I think now he has to step up and lead when able.»
Raiola definitely did that on the recruiting front. It’s really quite a deal when you step back from it: A guy going into just his second year of college having talent appealing enough to guys four years older to consider playing with him.
Jahmal Banks thought the same thing last year that Key did this year.
Hey, I know, it’s that time of year when only the good stuff drips from player quotes and many of the stories. Yet Key could have supplied a variety of reasons why he’s a Husker right now without the QB being prominent in the story.
But he was in that one. He will be in many of them as it concerns Husker football in 2025.
One day at a time. One mat drill at a time. One throwing-on-air early morning session at a time. Sometimes, one text at a time.
Maybe it’s not a touchdown throw to take a fourth-quarter lead against Michigan. But that message in December found Key through all the traffic. And it mattered.