Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola Plans to Work with Patrick Mahomes as Big Red Depth is Validated

Could Raiola-Fidone Become the Mahomes-Kelce Combo of College Football?

One of the most impressive performers in Nebraska’s 2024 spring was redshirt junior tight end Thomas Fidone. Fidone, a 4-Star prospect out of Council Bluffs, IA, was the Huskers' second-leading receiver in 2023. He is expected to make a huge leap in 2024 with Raiola under center.

Since Raiola's quarterbacking style is already being compared to Mahomes, it is natural to wonder if Fidone will be to Raiola what Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is to Mahomes. Fidone closed the spring with three catches, 45 yards, and a 25-yard TD pass from Raiola in the Red-White game.

In addition to Fidone, Jacory Barney Jr., Janiran Bonner, and Jaylen Lloyd impressed all in the spring game with TD catches. Lloyd’s 64-yard TD catch from Raiola flashed big play potential. In comparison, Barney caught a 41-yarder from Heinrich Haarberg. Meanwhile, the other top Nebraska tight end, Nate Boerkircher, caught a 61-yard pass from Raiola.

The offensive line and running backs also showed marked improvement and received praise this spring, giving a complete and complementary look for the Big Red offense.

Chief Borders’ Departure Validates Big Red Depth 

On Monday afternoon, it was learned that “Jack” linebacker Chief Borders entered the transfer portal. Head coach Matt Rhule called Borders “probably the most improved player” in Nebraska’s spring camp.

While some fans took the opportunity to snidely attack Nebraska’s touted “great culture” on social media, the reality is that Borders’s departure had more to do with being crowded out of a talented, deep defense.

Borders has been listed on the Nebraska roster as a defensive lineman but was primarily used in the spring as a Jack and outside linebacker. The redshirt junior transfer arrived from Florida in 2023 and totaled a career-best nine tackles with a pass deflection last season. When he signed with Florida, Borders was a 4-Star prospect out of Chicago, Illinois.

While Nebraska is sorry to lose Borders and thinks well of him, this could be another case of the portal harming a player. Borders will seek to play for his third team in three years. Most football people do not look favorably on such a resume. 

Of Special Concern

Last year, Nebraska showed moderate improvement in its special teams and stopped the bleeding of a unit that was a profound liability in the Scott Frost era. However, as evidenced by Saturday’s spring game, a lot of work remains to be done.

Sophomore placekicker Tristan Alvano was a prized pickup a few days after Rhule arrived in November 2022. Alvano earned a 5-star rating by Kohl’s Kicking as the 6^th-ranked kicker in the country for the 2023 class. In 2022 Alvano became a Nebraska high school legend as the first player in the history of the Nebraska state playoffs to make five field goals in a game.

Last year, Alvano was a respectable 9-15 on field goals but only 3-8 from 40 yards or more. In the spring game, Alvano missed from 32 and 43 yards while converting on a 40-yarder. Now, in his second season, Alvano must show greater consistency in 2024. Saturday demonstrated he has a lot of work still to do.

On the positive side, the special teams produced one of the most electrifying plays of the game when Jacory Barney Jr. returned a kickoff 78 yards.

Special Teams coordinator Ed Foley oversaw a solid improvement in 2023 and will work on turning the unit into an asset. Getting Alvano right and developing impact kick returners will continue as top priorities.

The Look of a Winner 

As hard as Nebraska fans and some media try to tone down expectations, the anticipation for the 2024 campaign is becoming increasingly difficult to contain.

The arrival of Glenn Thomas as QB coach has quickly turned that room into the envy of countless programs. Heinrich Haarberg improved several levels this spring and true freshman Daniel Kaelin, coveted by several Power Five programs, showed plenty of potential.

Outside of Raiola, the biggest takeaway was the entire team's businesslike confidence. Rhule is a relentless, daring, demanding taskmaster, but his players know that he cares and has their best interests at heart.

The Huskers' confident demeanor and noticeable depth in the Red-White game were the best evidence yet of a probable turnaround season to come.