Dylan Raiola after Georgia, USC, Nebraska visits: 'I'm going to have a hard decision to make'
EUGENE, Oregon — Dylan Raiola is the consensus No. 1 prospect in the nation in the class of 2024.
He backed that up at the Elite 11 regional showcase on Sunday at Sheldon High School. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Pinnacle (Arizona) star was the top quarterback of the more than 50 invited and was the only signal-caller to earn an invite to the prestigious Elite 11 Finals.
Raiola, who decomitted from Ohio State in December, has taken unofficial visits to Nebraska, Georgia and USC this spring.
Those three are widely considered top contenders, but Raiola has not announced a formal top three or a commitment date.
"I try to go into each visit with an open mind," Raiola said. "Not trying to have a set decision, letting schools have their fair shot and just enjoying my time with my family, how they like the visits ... we all come back home, talk about it and it's a great time."
Raiola, who will play his senior high school season at Pinnacle (Arizona) after transferring from Chandler, confirmed with SBLive on Sunday he has no timetable for a decision and does not have any official visits scheduled.
Each program offers something unique.
Raiola said USC coach Lincoln Riley hiring former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who coached Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech, as an offensive analyst in early April "gives him something to think about even more."
Georgia has been the insider favorite, with On3 and 247 showing Raiola trending toward the two-time defending national champion Bulldogs.
And his father, Dominic Raiola, was a star offensive lineman at Nebraska in the late 1990s.
Here is what he said about each:
On Nebraska
"It was really good getting out there. It was my first time with the new staff, getting to sit down with coach Satt (offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield) and (head coach Matt Rhule) and really see their vision of that program, understand the offense they're running and get familiar with the coaches and everything like that. So it was a very successful visit, and I'm excited for what the program is going to be doing."
On Georgia
"It's no secret that I love (head coach Kirby) Smart and what he does. Great leader. His coaching staff is all pulling for the same reasons, they're on the same page. And just being around (offensive quality control coach Mike Bobo) ... seeing how I fit in that system is pretty cool, so I'm going to have a hard decision to make, but I'm very blessed to be in the position I'm in."
On USC
"Coach (Lincoln) Riley, him hiring (senior offensive analyst) Kliff Kingsbury, coaching (Patrick Mahomes) back at Texas Tech. I think that's pretty cool. It gives me something to think about even more. I think Coach Riley just thinks for himself. He does what he does. He's got three Heismans. He changed OU, he's doing great things at SC, so it's exciting what he's doing."
—
