Nebraska has taken a few recruiting hits in recent weeks, losing 2026 quarterback Dayton Raiola—the younger brother of current Husker quarterback Dylan Raiola—and offensive line commit Leon Noil Jr. The
timing of Dayton’s decision raised eyebrows, as it came shortly after head coach Matt Rhule visited Buford High School in Georgia.
With Nebraska already struggling for traction in high school recruiting, the back-to-back departures raise a natural question: Should Husker fans be worried?
Quarterback Situation
If there’s one position where Nebraska is currently least vulnerable, it’s quarterback.
Former five-star Dylan Raiola took control of the offense this fall before his injury, giving Nebraska its most promising arm in years. Behind him, freshman T.J. Lateef stepped into the spotlight with a poised, confident debut against UCLA. He’ll face tougher tests in Penn State and Iowa, but his ceiling is already clear—and high.
The Huskers also hold a long-term building block in 2027 quarterback Trae Taylor, one of the most vocal peer recruiters in the class. His dual-threat style mirrors Lateef’s skill set, giving Nebraska continuity and stability for years to come.
In short, losing Dayton Raiola stings, but it doesn’t create a crisis. Nebraska’s quarterback room is as healthy and as talented as it has been in a long time.
Offensive Line Outlook
Leon Noil Jr.’s departure may be the more intriguing of the two. Noil fit the mold of a classic road-grader—big, physical, and mean. Players like that are gold in the Big Ten. Noil Jr has just committed to Mississippi State, keeping him in the South.
However, Nebraska’s offensive line pipeline is already unusually crowded. A wave of young linemen sits ready for opportunities as the current starters age out, and the 2026 class still features multiple strong prospects, including standout tackle Claude Mpouma. The room is deep, competitive, and full of long-term potential.
Given that landscape, it isn’t hard to imagine Noil seeing limited early playing time—or finding a more appealing NIL opportunity at Mississippi State.
In Closing
In the NIL era, reading the tea leaves of recruiting is more complicated than ever. But nothing about these decommitments suggests a program-wide issue or a misstep by Rhule and his staff.
More likely, Dayton Raiola and Leon Noil Jr. saw crowded depth charts, stiff competition, and better individual paths elsewhere. That’s not a reflection of Nebraska’s trajectory—it’s simply today’s reality.
Decommitments happen. They will continue to happen. And Nebraska, stocked with young talent at key positions, is far from a program in crisis.
The Huskers are still building. Still competing. Still recruiting. And this certainly won’t be the last twist in the ride.
