Despite the comparisons to Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola revealed that his choice to wear the No. 15 jersey isn’t a nod to Mahomes, but rather to another legendary quarterback: former Florida Gators star Tim Tebow.
Raiola, who has been leading the Cornhuskers to early-season victories, recently addressed the speculation surrounding his jersey number. In a Bleacher Report YouTube video, he clarified, “No, I wore 15 my first year of football, actually. (In honor of) Tim Tebow. A strong Christian person, played football at Florida. I look up to people that have good character and are a good person. He was that guy at the time.”
Through his first two games, Raiola has guided Nebraska to back-to-back wins against UTEP and Colorado, passing for 423 yards and three touchdowns. The hype around him has even caught the attention of Mahomes himself, who playfully acknowledged Raiola on social media by quote-tweeting a Cornhuskers highlight with the caption, “Lil cuzzo!! 
”
Raiola’s childhood idol, Tebow, also weighed in on the young quarterback’s rising stardom. Before Nebraska’s game against Colorado, Tebow remarked, “Dylan Raiola, Week 1, stepping up and dropping dimes all over. Everybody wants to make the Patrick Mahomes comparison because of their throwing motion, and you know, there are some similarities there. I know he wears the number, I know he looks like it, but you know what? Sometimes we throw those comparisons too soon, but the way this kid maneuvers in the pocket and his accuracy from different angles — he’s got so much talent.”
For Raiola, having his play recognized by a childhood hero like Tebow is undoubtedly special. As the Cornhuskers continue their season, they’ll be aiming to build on this positive momentum. While they haven’t faced their toughest challenges yet, with games against teams like Northern Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, Rutgers, and Indiana on the horizon, Raiola is emerging as a key player for Nebraska’s future under head coach Matt Rhule. The real test, however, will come in late October when the Cornhuskers travel to Columbus to face the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes.