Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola addressed his relationship with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at Big Ten media days. UCLA plays the Huskers this coming season, so what — if anything — should we take from this story? Start with this: The Bruins’ Week 11 opponent will need to take a leap to be a true threat in the Big Ten.
Cornhusker quarterback Dylan Raiola has drawn plenty of comparisons to Mahomes, the former Texas Tech quarterback and established NFL legend. Raiola compared his relationship with Mahomes to NBA legends Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan on Tuesday. College Sports Wire has more:
“I’m not comparing myself to Kobe or anything, but like Kobe did to Mike (Jordan), that’s kind of what it is for me to Patrick,” Raiola said. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now, if not the best. Just for me to be able to have someone to look up to, talk, call, whatever. The comparisons are kind of everything outside. I can’t control that God made me look like this, play the same sport. It’s all love.”
In Raiola’s freshman season, he threw for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, for a 67.1 completion percentage, according to Nebraska.
Raiola is entering his sophomore season and his expectations are high, but he will need to take a leap along with his offense, which averaged 23.5 points a game last year.
UCLA fared much worse, averaging only 18.4 points a game, but allowing only 25.3 points a game.
The Bruins’ defense showed up last November and forced one of Raiola’s worst performances in a 27-20 victory for the UCLA. Raiola threw for a 51.9 completion percentage, a touchdown and an interception.
This season Raiola and the Cornhuskers have a chance to show real offensive improvement against the Bruins on Nov. 8 at the Rose Bowl. UCLA hopes Raiola’s evolution stalls on that day.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: What does Dylan Raiola’s relationship with Patrick Mahomes mean for UCLA vs Nebraska?
Reporting by Ryan Lorenz, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
