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The Patrick Mahomes-Dylan Raiola connection? This is more than a haircut and it’s a 15

Irishu
The Patrick Mahomes-Dylan Raiola connection? This is more than a haircut and it’s a 15

LINCOLN, Neb. — Here is the haircut and Dylan Raiola‘s warm-up routine in the moments before kick-off. He’s got the sunglasses, the attitude, the way he gets in and out of red-adorned pockets. There are sidearm shots and even misguided suggestion that his younger brother was imitating Patrick Mahomes’ brother.

Inspired not by Mahomes but by former Florida star Tim Tebow, the No. 15 jersey evokes a double gaze. But there’s much more underneath the surface that connects Nebraska freshman quarterback Raiola to Mahomes, the three-time Super Bowl-winning star of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Raiola, a former five-star prospect from Buford, Ga., threw for 967 yards and eight touchdowns in four college games. In fact, his first month was almost perfect until Huskers’ late collapse against Illinois We lost 31-24 in overtime last Friday.

But outside of Nebraska, conversations about the 19-year-old Raiola are dominated by his resemblance to Mahomes.

“I think if that’s what people want to say, this guy is one of the best, so it’s great,” Raiola said when the conversation began last month. he said.

Raiola works extensively with quarterbacks coach Jeff Christensen and coach Bobby Stroupe, even during football season; both helped Mahomes win two championships. NFL MVP.

What gets lost among the memes and social media reaction? Raiola did not connect with Mahomes’ support staff as part of his plan to follow his lead.

Raiola found them because of his closeness to Christensen and Stroupe, who operated separately in North Texas when Raiola attended high school in 2020 and 2021, and their connections through Dylan’s father, former Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola.

They see more differences than similarities between Raiola and Mahomes.

“Honestly, I don’t care about all the hype,” said Christensen, a longtime coach and eight-year NFL QB. “To me, there are two wonderful people, two wonderful families and two children who want to have. They are responsible. They care about their teammates. They are good souls. “That’s all I can do.”

Stroupe moved his operation to Kansas City. He said he spent 10 hours a week with Mahomes during the season. holistic training sessions documented last year in the Netflix series “Quarterback.”

His check-ins with Raiola often remain in Lincoln and are done through digital monitoring of Raiola’s work.

Stroupe said he understands the magic of measuring. Nebraska QB vs. 29-year-old Mahomes. But it misses a larger point, he said.

“They move the same way,” Stroupe said. “They have some dimensions that give them similarity. I think the way they throw the football, the way they protect the ball is a little bit different. Dylan will go his own way. He will be very distant from Patrick.

“I’m excited to see Dylan chart his own path.”


Comparisons between Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola have gained traction on social media this season. But there are more similar stories. (Jay Biggerstaff / Imagn Images, Dylan Widger / USA Today)

A holistic educational approach

Stroupe’s methodology caught the eye of former All-America center at Nebraska Dominic Raiola, who tried to find the best program for Dylan during his rise. Dylan joined us last year along with Stroupe.

Ranked as the No. 3 quarterback in the Class of 2024 according to On3’s industry average, he finished his first semester at Nebraska by playing in the spring game. His showing answered many questions about whether he was ready to take on the role as a freshman. Raiola then spent several weeks with Stroupe in Kansas City.

Nebraska strength coach Corey Campbell observed some of the sessions. The Stroupe partnership includes Campbell and others who work every day with the Huskers in Nebraska.

Stroupe said the arrangement was very similar to his interactions with Mahomes and the Chiefs. His relationship with Mahomes goes back 20 years.

“For me, it’s about nurturing their uniqueness and expanding on what makes them different, like what is their unique talent,” Stroupe said.

What makes Mahomes unique? It differs from what makes Raiola unique.

Mahomes’ ability to run cornerbacks is special. This shows when he extends his plays and evades defenders who run faster than Mahomes in a straight line. He develops this skill with Stroupe, but some qualities are innate.

Stroupe said both quarterbacks have “composure.” Both started athletically in baseball. According to Stroupe, Raiola’s loading movements and shoulder anatomy naturally resemble the former QB’s.

And his size at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds is a divider — Mahomes is listed at 6-2 and 225.

“He’s more physically impressive,” Stroupe said. “I think Dylan has the potential to be a strong runner in situations where he really wants to be.”

Stroupe said he could run over the middle linebacker. Of course, Matt Rhule and the Nebraska coaches would have preferred Raiola not to do this.

If necessary, Stroupe will coordinate with Campbell and the Nebraska staff to prepare him.

Early focus on size

When Raiola wasn’t signed as a recruit last year, Christensen talked to Rhule about the QB.

“He asked me what I thought of Dylan,” Christensen said. “I said it’s very rare for any 18-year-old kid to come to a major university, especially a Big Ten university, and play at a high level.

“But if anyone can do it, it’s him.”

Christensen has been coaching Mahomes on the mechanics of playing quarterback since 2017, his rookie year in the NFL. It started with Raiola four years ago.

Many of the principles in Mahomes’ training also apply to Christensen’s work with Raiola. When confronted by trainer Dylan, Christensen said: “He looked like the young stallion colt you were trying to break.”

That’s not unlike the path Mahomes followed as a colt before throwing for more than 11,000 yards in three seasons in Whitehouse, Texas. Texas Tech.

Raiola committed Ohio State He only returned in 2022 shortly after Rhule took over at Nebraska in November of that year. He then committed to Georgia in May 2023. Nebraska never lost interest. Last December, days before the signing period began, Dylan returned to Nebraska.

Christensen’s words resonated. He told Rhule that Raiola had worked too hard to fail.

“He eats it, sleeps it and drinks it,” Christensen said. “It means a lot to him. Even though he’s not obsessed, it’s just his dream. And he’s one of those rare kids whose actions match his words. He’s driven by the possibility of being great.”

Like Stroupe, Christensen communicates with Raiola throughout the season. But Huskers first-year quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield are involved in every aspect of game preparation.

“Too much information can muddy the waters,” Christensen said.

His conversations with Raiola focus on basic issues. For example, Christensen reminds us of the cause and effect of the ball flight to the QB, as he did with Mahomes.

There is a fine line in Raiola’s touch and zip shooting process.

“It’s kind of a feeling thing for me,” Raiola said. “It’s an instinct that is trained over and over again.”

It almost didn’t slip in four games. Both of his interceptions in 88 attempts were fumbled by Nebraska receivers.

“His preparation allows him to see what happens during the game,” Rhule said.

‘Just like Patrick’

Mahomes’ comp went viral for the first time In July, after Nebraska shared a photo of Raiola at the start of preseason camp.

He was just walking around campus. He looks like Mahomes.

Mahomes, always a good sport, weighed in on the excitement.

A question about Raiola arose during Mahomes’ press conference two weeks ago. The quarterbacks trained together.

“Honestly, it’s great,” Mahomes said. “I was that guy. I grew up watching the actors. I loved A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez), I played center back, I tried to play games like him. “It helped me become the athlete I am.”

Every highlight of Raiola brings more fruit to the internet audience. Raiola seems unimpressed by this attention.

“He has a lot of pride, but he has no ego,” Rhule told NFL Network personality Rich Eisen on his radio show last week. “You can feel it from the first moment. And so you kind of gravitate towards it.

As for the Mahomes comparison, Rhule acknowledges it.

“The great thing is, he’s a winner just like Patrick,” the Nebraska coach said on Eisen’s show.

Raiola has largely avoided social media since his fame as a top prospect rose.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him nervous,” the senior wide receiver said Isaiah NeyorRaiola’s biggest goal this season. “It’s just in him. He is a natural competitor.”

And he’s doing his best to act like a normal college athlete.

He answers media questions twice a week as scheduled. She is a fixture at the Devaney Center to watch the No. 2-ranked Nebraska volleyball team — often accompanied by her sister, Taylor, a former volleyball player. TCU Volleyball player who works as a recruiter for Nebraska football.

Two years ago, before Rhule called Christensen to ask about Dylan and the Huskers were biding their time while the QB helped out Georgia While recruiting the 2024 class, Rhule watched Dylan start training as a high school junior.

Rhule, who just left the NFL after two-plus seasons as the coach of the Carolina Panthers, described the end of practice with a staff member from Nebraska.

The coach’s first question: “What did it look like?”

“That’s Mahomes.”

(Photos of Dylan Raiola, Patrick Mahomes: Steven Branscombe / Getty Images, Jay Biggerstaff / Imagn Images)