Elite QB talent on display when CU Buffs and Nebraska meet Saturday – Boulder Daily Camera

One is already an established star, the other is just starting out.

On Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska, two of the most talented quarterbacks in the country will be on display when Colorado visits Nebraska (5:30 p.m. MT, NBC) in a long-standing rivalry matchup.

CU’s Shedeur Sanders is a senior and is projected by some to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola is a true freshman with one game under his belt and plenty of potential left.

Opposing coaches know they’ll have their work cut out for them trying to stop quarterbacks this week.

“He’s got a big-time arm,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said of Sanders during his weekly news conference. “He can use all 53 1/3 yards of the field (sideline to sideline), right? He can throw the ball sideline to sideline. He’s got great pocket sense. He moves around the pocket. He can hurt you with his feet, but he slides around the pocket to find guys that are open.”

Sanders, who began his career with two seasons at Jackson State before transferring to CU last year, threw for 445 yards and four touchdowns in CU’s season-opening win against North Dakota State on Aug. 29.

In his career, Sanders has thrown for 10,718 yards and 101 touchdowns. And he has arguably the best receiving corps in the country, headlined by another projected top-five prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, Travis Hunter.

“He’s got great weapons around him,” Rhule said of Sanders. “He’s gritty and tough. He’s an elite competitor. You’re probably going to be facing two of the first five guys taken in this week’s draft. So he’s definitely going to be up there.”

Raiola, meanwhile, was a five-star recruit in the 2024 class, rated by 247Sports as the No. 2 quarterback in the class. He is the only one of the top 25 quarterback recruits in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports’ rankings, to have earned the starting job for Week 1.

During a 40-7 win against UTEP on Saturday, Raiola completed 19 of 27 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns.

Dylan Raiola talks to supporters courtside before an NCAA college basketball game between Nebraska and Indiana on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Lincoln, Neb. Raiola recently signed with the Nebraska football team as a quarterback recruit. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)

“The kid made some pretty good throws, some pretty good plays,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said of Raiola. “They did some consistent things that we knew they would do within their offense, a phenomenal game. I mean, it started off a little bit back and forth, but they kept going and did what they had to do. But I love what he showed in this first college game. I love what he showed.”

Both quarterbacks are not only talented, but also sons of NFL veterans.

Shedeur, of course, is the son of CU’s head coach, who is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and arguably the greatest cornerback to ever play the game.

Raiola is the son of former Nebraska lineman Dominic Raiola, who was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Lions in 2001. Dominic played 14 seasons with the Lions, making 203 starts, becoming the first Lions player to make more than 200 starts.

Growing up surrounded by the game, they both learned a professional approach while honing their craft.

Even after a big game against NDSU, Shedeur said, “It was good, but every incomplete pass hurts me a little bit inside, for sure… I’m excited about the win, but there are definitely situations in that game that I personally could have handled better. They’re passes I could have made, check-down passes, I could have gotten to them.”

Rhule was pleased with Raiola’s debut, saying the freshman “played a complete game” but is far from polished.

“There were a couple of little things, but not much,” Rhule said. “I thought he was clean in the pocket, protected the ball and still showed a level of aggressiveness that we want. He gave his guys a chance.”

“Dylan will work hard and practice hard, prepare for the game and go out there and play. We will play as hard as we can and I’m sure he will give it his all.”

So will Shedeur, who threw for 393 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score in the Buffs’ 36-14 win over the Cornhuskers last year.

“I’ve never met him before, but I have a huge amount of respect for that guy, for everything he has to deal with, for everything that comes with being a Sanders,” Raiola told local media. “I have a lot of respect for how he’s handled that. I think he’s an elite quarterback and he’s going to give us everything we want.”

Originally published: September 4, 2024 at 4:53 p.m.

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Elite QB talent on display when CU Buffs and Nebraska meet Saturday – Boulder Daily Camera

ByS. Jacob

By S. Jacob

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