Georgia just landed the biggest fish in the entire 2024 class.
Five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, the No. 1 prospect this recruiting cycle who had previously been committed to Ohio State but backed off that pledge in mid-December, picked the Bulldogs over USC and Nebraska in a decision that looked to be trending that way for at least a few weeks.
The new quarterback at Phoenix (Ariz.) Pinnacle after transferring there this offseason from Chandler, Ariz., had taken more than a handful of visits to Athens and took a methodical, thoughtful approach to the recruiting process.
He and his father, Dominic, sat with coach Kirby Smart along with new offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and others. They’ve seen the back-to-back national championships and the talent accumulation on the roster.
Raiola has said more than a few times that he especially appreciates Georgia’s professional approach to the recruiting process and how everything was handled from top to bottom.
The five-star standout becomes the second quarterback in Georgia’s recruiting class along with four-star Ryan Puglisi from Avon (Conn.) Avon Old Farms. The Bulldogs are currently the only team nationally with two five-star pledges as safety Peyton Woodyard is also committed but is being pursued by Alabama, Ohio State, USC and others.
For Raiola, USC and Nebraska were legitimate contenders.
Playing for USC coach Lincoln Riley has almost guaranteed quarterback success. The Trojans won 11 games in Riley’s first season and the program seems to be trending back to not only national relevancy but also toward the College Football Playoff. Raiola also trains in Southern California and definitely has been shown to enjoy the area.
The connections at Nebraska are extensive. His father played there. His uncle, Donovan, is on the Huskers’ coaching staff. First-year coach Matt Rhule during the spring evaluation period sent his entire staff to Raiola’s high school in a clear show that they’re not backing down for the five-star quarterback.
There was also a sense that it would be appealing to be a key cog in giving Nebraska national relevancy again, a program aching for it with a fan base longing for the taste of success again.
But, in the end, Raiola could only pick one school and the back-to-back national champs just landed the current No. 1 player in the entire class.
IN THEIR WORDS
After the Raiola family’s visit to Georgia, Dominic Raiola had this to say about their most-recent trip to Athens:
"Every time we go there, we feel the same leaving there: It’s elite, the environment is competitive, it’s a grinder and a lot of it is football. Once you step into the indoor facility, it’s all football and you can see why [Smart] built what he built there.
"You can see his plan in action. Everything they do from nutrition to recovery to weight room and then you get into meetings and on the field, it’s an environment that’s competitive and conducive to winning."
