The transfer portal declarations are alive and well this week, as many players are getting a head start on their intentions as the bowl season begins. Many top players and power-conference programs have declared their intentions to enter the transfer portal, beginning the search for a new destination. One such player is the former No. 1 quarterback prospect and former starting quarterback of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Dylan Raiola.
Raiola has been the starting quarterback and field general for the Cornhuskers in his first two college seasons, showing glimpses of brilliance and moments of confusion for many Nebraska fans. His potential has been the key to maintaining the starting spot. However, most Cornhusker fans are sure to be questioning their return on investment after a disappointing 7-5 finish. Many had Nebraska as a dark-horse College Football Playoff team, which obviously did not come to fruition after Raiola’s untimely injury in their loss to the USC Trojans.
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The link to Raiola has some wondering if the juice is worth the squeeze
The flashy pickup of Raiola would make for a significant splash at the start of the offseason portal campaign and the Cardinals' roster rebuild; there is no doubt about that. However, would the addition of Raiola be in the team's best interest moving into next year? Being one of the top portal transfer quarterbacks, Raiola is sure to be demanding a high price tag for his services next season. In an era where every dollar matters, does Louisville football really want to put most of its eggs in the basket of one position?
If the price is right and Louisville can get him at a reasonable price, then the Cards fans are all-in. However, this high price tag would likely limit the types of players they can sign in key positions. Louisville's main area of need will be the trenches, specifically the offensive line, and pursuing a guy like Raiola will require the Cards to spend a lot of their NIL money on him alone.
Additionally, Raiola has not shown an ability to compete and win against ranked opponents. In Raiola’s two seasons at Nebraska, the Cornhuskers faced five top-25 opponents where Raiola was the starting quarterback. Nebraska went 0-5 in said games. Although football is a team sport, and no single position decides the outcome of each game, the quarterback's role in facilitating the offense and putting the team in a position to win is critical. After the season Louisville fans just experienced with Miller Moss, this lack of competition in big games may prompt some pause in accepting Raiola as the quarterback if he decides to play for the Cardinals.
Coach Jeff Brohm has an excellent track record of selecting the right quarterbacks to bring into his system and run his offense. Although Miller Moss may have been a slight miss this past season, Cardinals fans hope that if Brohm does, in fact, go portalling once again at quarterback, another miss does not occur. Raiola has the potential, but he also has a high price tag and questions about his ability in tense, competitive situations. Cardinal fans should trust that Brohm will make the right decision for his offense and this Cardinal team, but if the price tag is insanely high, it might be worth just staying away.
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