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    • Patrick Mahomes thinks it’s ‘cool’ that Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola is a mini-him
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    Patrick Mahomes thinks it’s ‘cool’ that Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola is a mini-him

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    Even before he arrived on campus for training camp, the spotlight was already on Nebraska football’s freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola.

    The consensus five-star recruit, who flipped his commitment from Georgia to Nebraska, went on to become the second true freshman starting quarterback in Cornhuskers history in Week 1 vs. UTEP. And according to ESPN, he was the only true freshman quarterback to start for a Power Four team in Week 1.

    But that’s not the reason he’s in this spot. And it’s not because he’s led Nebraska to its first 3-0 start since 2016. It’s because the 6-foot-3 quarterback has gone viral for being compared to former Texas Tech and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

    REQUIRED READING: Big 12 power rankings: Get ready for Oklahoma State and Utah to battle for No. 1

    Trying to emulate or emulate a professional athlete is nothing new for young athletes. This is especially true in today’s age of technology, where young athletes can pull up highlights of their favorite athletes on YouTube mobile devices and watch hours of movies.

    But when the supporting details in the Mahomes-Raiola comparisons range from wearing the same number 15 to similar haircuts and now the same pregame routine, curiosity within college football continues to grow: Is Raiola a Mahomes clone?

    Here’s more on the Mahomes-Raiola comparison, including what both have said about it:

    Patrick Mahomes-Dylan Raiola comparison explained

    The comparison between Mahomes and Raiola dates back to July 31, when Raiola reported to Nebraska’s training camp for the 2024 American football season, looking like the three-time Super Bowl champion.

    The situation escalated in Week 1 against UTEP, when Raiola arrived at Memorial Stadium wearing sunglasses that resembled Mahomes’, came out of the pocket and threw with his sidearm, just like Mahomes did in the game, but wearing the number 15.

    After Raiola’s first collegiate touchdown — a 59-yard touchdown pass to Nebraska wide receiver Isaiah Neyor — Mahomes took to X (formerly Twitter) to shout out his “Lil Cuzzo’s” dart. It’s not every day that an NFL quarterback of Mahomes’ stature and fame tweets at a college player.

    And then there’s what happened this past week, when Fox’s broadcast caught Raiola doing Mahomes’ signature warm-up on the sideline at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska before the Cornhuskers’ Week 3 game. You can’t help but notice Raiola’s similarities and near-flawlessness here.

    But despite all this and the fame that comes with it, Dylan Raiola has tried to downplay the comparisons to Mahomes, repeatedly emphasizing that the focus is on himself and Nebraska.

    “A lot of people think I’m trying to be like him, but honestly, I grew up playing baseball (and) never liked football. As a kid, I always wore glasses,” Raiola said at a news conference in August when asked about the initial comparisons to Mahomes on social media.

    “I’ve had this haircut since maybe 6th or 7th grade and I didn’t really know about Mahomes back then. I have my own kick to it, so it’s not exactly like him. I think people want to say that (they can). The dude is one of the best, so that’s cool. I just try to do my own style and emulate my game.”

    Patrick Mahomes talks about Dylan Raiola

    Before the Chiefs’ Week 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Mahomes was asked further about the comparisons between the two teams. He indicated that working with Raiola in the offseason has worked well in the past.

    “It’s cool, honestly. I was that guy,” Mahomes said. “I loved Alex Rodriguez, played shortstop (and) tried to make plays like him and do stuff like that. It helped me become the athlete that I am (today).

    “It just tells me I’m getting a little bit old. You’ve got these guys coming up and doing some side arm (throwing) stuff and things like that. I know Dylan, I train with him in the off-season. He’s a great kid, a great football player. I think he’s going to put his own stamp on the game and I think you saw that early on in his career.”

    Dylan Raiola Stats

    Below are Raiola’s stats so far this season at Nebraska:

    • 2024: 59 of 80 (73.8%) passing for 670 yards with five touchdowns and one interception; six carries for 14 rushing yards

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