Patrick Mahomes thinks it’s “cool” that Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola is a miniature version of him
Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire on the defense’s recovery
Texas Tech football ranks 128th in the FBS in pass defense after two weeks. On Saturday, the Red Raiders had three interceptions that led to touchdowns.
Even before he arrived on campus for training camp, Dylan Raiola, the new quarterback of the Nebraska football team, was in the spotlight.
The widely regarded five-star recruit, who switched his commitment from Georgia to Nebraska, then became the second true freshman starting quarterback in Cornhuskers history in Week 1 against UTEP. And according to ESPN, he was the only true freshman quarterback to start for a Power Four team in Week 1.
But that’s not the reason for this spot. Nor is it the fact that he led Nebraska to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2016. It’s because the 6-foot-3 quarterback has become known through comparisons to former Texas Tech and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
REQUIRED READING: Big 12 Power Rankings: Get ready for Oklahoma State and Utah to battle for No. 1
It is nothing new for young athletes to imitate or learn from a professional athlete, especially in this age of technology where young athletes can access highlights of their favorite athletes on YouTube mobile devices and watch hours of film.
But when the details of the Mahomes-Raiola comparison range from wearing the same number 15 to having similar haircuts to having the same pre-game routine, among other things, it further piques the curiosity in college football: Is Raiola a clone of Mahomes?
Here’s more on the Mahomes vs Raiola comparison, including what both of them said:
Patrick Mahomes-Dylan Raiola comparison explained
The comparison between Mahomes and Raiola began on July 31, when Raiola, like the three-time Super Bowl champion, arrived at training camp in Nebraska for the 2024 college football season.
The situation then escalated in Week 1 against UTEP when Raiola arrived at Memorial Stadium wearing sunglasses similar to Mahomes, came out of the pocket and, wearing the number 15, threw sidearm throws like Mahomes in the game.
After Raiola’s first college touchdown – a 59-yard touchdown pass to Nebraska wide receiver Isaiah Neyor – Mahomes took to X (formerly Twitter) to shout out his “Lil Cuzzo’s” dart. It’s not every day that an NFL quarterback of Mahomes’ stature and fame sends a tweet to a college player.
And then there’s what happened last week, when the Fox broadcast caught Raiola doing Mahomes’ signature warm-up on the sidelines at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, before the Cornhuskers’ Week 3 game. One can’t help but notice the similarities and Raiola’s nearly flawless manner in doing so.
Despite all this and the fame that comes with it, Dylan Raiola has tried several times to downplay the comparisons to Mahomes and reiterate that the focus is on himself and Nebraska.
“A lot of people think I try to be just like him, but honestly, I grew up playing baseball and never liked football. I always wore glasses as a kid,” Raiola said at a press conference in August when asked about early comparisons to Mahomes on social media.
“I’ve had this haircut since maybe 6th or 7th grade, and I really didn’t know anything about Mahomes back then. I have my own little kick, so it’s not quite like him. If people want to say that, I guess they can. The guy is one of the best, so it’s cool. I just try to make my own and model my game after my own.”
Patrick Mahomes talks about Dylan Raiola
Before the Chiefs’ Week 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Mahomes was further asked about the comparisons between the two and revealed that he has worked out with Raiola in the offseason in the past.
“It’s cool, honestly. I was that guy,” Mahomes said. “I loved Alex Rodriguez, playing shortstop (and) trying to play just like him and do stuff like that. It helped me become the athlete I am (today).”
“It just tells me I’m getting a little old. There are these guys that are coming up and doing some of these sidearm throwing things and stuff like that. I know Dylan, I train with him in the offseason. He’s a great kid, a great football player. I think he’s going to put his own stamp on the game and I think you saw that early on in his career.”
Dylan Raiola Statistics
Here’s a look at Raiola’s stats this season at Nebraska:
- 2024: 59 of 80 (73.8%) passes for 670 yards with five touchdowns and one interception; six runs for 14 rushing yards
