Dylan Raiola, a five-star QB and the No. 1-ranked overall player in the Class of 2024, has decommitted from Ohio State. Raiola, who is the son of Nebraska Football Hall of Famer Dominic Raiola and the nephew of Huskers OL coach Donovan Raiola, is now officially back on the recruiting market.
“This is what he prayed about and it’s just where it came,” Dominic Raiola
told Rivals' Adam Gorney. “We have a lot of respect for that program, we have a lot of respect for coach [Ryan] Day, it’s just where Dylan is at right now. We’re not going to put anything in any negative light. It’s just where it is.”
Raiola's decision to decommit from the Buckeyes is as shocking of a move as you will see on the recruiting trail in the 2024 cycle.
The superstar high school quarterback prospect had been committed to Ohio State since May 9, and all previous indications were that he was firmly committed to the Buckeyes. That pledge appeared to be even stronger after Ohio State landed the country's No. 1-ranked receiver,
Jeremiah Smith, on Wednesday to add to a class that was positioning itself to finish No. 1 in the country and also featured the country's top-ranked OT
Ian Moore.
Raiola's choice to reopen his recruitment was decided quickly over the last week and has blindsided the Buckeyes coaching staff.
What this means for the potential that Raiola will land with the Huskers remains to be seen. But the move is now official, and Nebraska will have a shot to land arguably the program's most important recruiting win in the last decade.
Donovan Raiola was officially retained as the Huskers' OL coach, but that move did not play a role in Dylan Raiola's decision to reopen his recruitment.
“That has nothing to do with it,” Dominic Raiola said. “Him being retained at Nebraska is a testament to him as a coach. Him being retained at Nebraska has nothing to do with Dylan opening back up.”
There is no plan right now to reclassify to the 2023 class, and Raiola has reopened his recruitment to every school.
“We’re not opposed to anybody," Dominic Raiola said. "This is his process. He’s a relationship kid and he’ll find his way.”
Inside Nebraska will have more on Raiola's decommitment and his recruitment shortly.