“Trust the process“: Matt Rhule’s mantra heading into the 2025 spring. But does over-trusting the process make him a victim of some slipped opportunities? Food for thought. A few months back, he dished a solid blow to QB Dylan Raiola’s ego with the weight shame. Raiola took it to heart and shed some pounds in this off-season to come close to a sculpted frame. Rhule somewhat pushed him to his limits, which is an alternative way to chisel out the best of his QB1. That’s all fine. But he needs some solid backup guys behind him to make it work. Rhule has missed a masterstroke there. The name in the question is Jett Thomalla. 

Coach Rhule is breathing a sigh of relief about his QB room as Dayton Raiola, the younger brother of Dylan Raiola, is already a commit. The junior Raiola is the only quarterback from the class of 2026 to join the force. He came up with some solid stats, featuring 1,953 yards, 19 touchdowns, and three interceptions for Buford High School in Georgia last season. The icing on the cake is obviously the Raiola supremacy at Lincoln. But take it with a grain of salt; he’s yet to sign his papers.

Rhule seems poised enough in him to let go of one of the best in his state, Jet Thomalla. Letting go would still be the wrong phrase. They, in fact, never have him on their Bingo card. The former Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker gets zero chills on that. “The number one high school football quarterback in the state of Nebraska, Jett Thomalla, out of Millard South in Omaha, just posted he had a great phone conversation with Kirk Ferentz and got an offer from Iowa State,” Adam reflected on the latest commitment bombshell from Thomalla.

Jett is far from the regular in-state quarterbacks that you often pass over. The kid is one of a kind for real. The most elite trait he possesses is the acute ability to read and pick apart defenses. Thomalla took the high school football world by storm as a junior, leading the Patriots to the Nebraska Class A state championship last fall. He capped off with a heck of 69.6 percent of his passes for 3,664 yards and 47 touchdowns against just three interceptions. His overall yards count is sick, standing somewhere near 7000 (6769). Some of his passes are worth blowing your mind if you’re a seasoned judge. His on-point touch and the excellent flawless placement have been the worst nightmare of the defenders.

Quite too expensive to be ignored, right? But Nebraska is holding on to their storied Raiola history way too tightly. “Dayton Raiola is committed to coming here. Donovan Raiola is the offensive line coach. Dylan’s sister works in the football department. Dominic Raiola, all-time great American Rimington Award winner. But we don’t even offer the No.1 player in the state of Nebraska!” Adam cast doubt on the future of Dayton Raiola’s verbal commitment, “Guys come and go so often. I expect Dayton to come. Guys de-commit all the time. You never know what happens in the world called competition.”

However, even if Dayton turns out to be a fluff, Rhule is currently obsessing over his guy under the center.

Matt Rhule seems fully convinced of his high-yielding QB room 

A beautiful contradiction of perception! As Raiola took the fitness regime seriously, he stepped into the spring game as one of the fittest in the room. Coach Rhule seems to be in awe of what his jab has done to his quarterback in a few months. He is perceiving a new man, a new athleticism altogether, better, sharper than before.

‘I think just Dylan’s command of the offense and what we’re doing is just really impressive. So, obviously, that’s growth. But he’s out there today, and we’re in two minutes, and I think TJ was going, and you know, he’s coaching him because, like I said, he just gets it. You know, the plays haven’t changed,” said Rhule.

TJ is a beast when it comes to gameplay as well. While his primary role would be to back up Raiola this season, 152 of 214 passes, 1965 yards with 13 TDs speak louder of his ability to do more. Let’s be honest. Raiola has reasons to have blind faith in his QB room. He said with a few more reps, he is excited to see how they further hone their craft, leading the offense to an unprecedented benchmark. But at least extending an offer to their biggest in-state sensation would not do much harm. Would it?