Connect with us

Nebraska

Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola embracing leadership role in second year on campus

Published

on

Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola embracing leadership role in second year on campus


LINCOLN, Neb. — Possessions in the final minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime decided seven games last season for Nebraska. The Huskers lost five. They beat Rutgers with defense and gained three first downs to run out the clock in the Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.

Eighteen Nebraska drives began after the end of the third quarter with a margin on the scoreboard of eight points or less. It got positive outcomes on three. Eight possessions ended in punts, four with turnovers and one apiece on a missed field goal, on downs and the end of regulation.

“It’s been an emphasis,” said quarterback Dylan Raiola, who started every game for the Huskers in 2024. “We’re not going to lose any more of those.”

Raiola holds the key to bettering Nebraska’s late-game and third-down missteps. His maturation as a QB in this second offseason of his collegiate career looms large.

Advertisement

Three months in, Raiola’s progress is evident.

He’s slimmed down, an objective stated by Matt Rhule in each of the coach’s media sessions since the calendar turned to 2025. According to his teammates and coaches, Raiola has advanced in his leadership. And he’s working, at the outset of spring practice this week, to correct subtle deficiencies in his game and around him on offense that kept Nebraska from winning the moments that mattered most last year.

“He’s 19 years old,” Rhule said. “He’s a very, very focused young man. So he’s working at it. And I think he’ll be really good.”

Raiola, the former five-star signee out of Buford, Ga., was chosen last year as the starter in August. However, an expectation of greatness arrived with him at Nebraska in January of his first year on campus.

He threw for 2,819 yards on 67.1 percent passing. Both marks set freshman records at Nebraska and led true freshmen nationally. Raiola tossed 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Advertisement

When Dana Holgorsen took over in November as offensive coordinator for the Huskers’ final four games, he said he noticed that Raiola seemed to spend time “in the shadows.”

Holgorsen, a head coach in the Big 12 for eight seasons (and 13 overall), said Raiola didn’t embrace the added responsibility of a leader because the young QB already faced so much pressure.

“He’s working on that right now,” Holgorsen said. “And I see a tremendous amount of growth with him, with his leadership skills. He’s a great teammate and he understands the importance of leading. And that’s rubbing off on a lot of the guys.”

Rhule emphasized leadership as a Raiola priority from the start of this year.


Dylan Raiola threw 13 TD passes and 11 interceptions in 2024. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

“Before he can make it his team, he has to make it his offense,” Rhule said last month. “And before he can make it his offense, he has to make it his receiving corps.”

Advertisement

Rhule watched Raiola keep a quiet voice in the team setting last year in his bid to earn respect.

“Now he has to step up and lead,” Rhule said.

That means demanding that the receivers show up for offseason workouts arranged by Raiola.

“Year 1, it’s like, ‘I asked them. Five guys showed up.’” Rhule said. “Well, that’s not leadership. That’s trying to be a leader. Leadership is when you get everybody there.”

And this year?

Advertisement

“He’s been real serious about what he’s doing,” wide receiver Jacory Barney said.

Receiver Dane Key, a transfer from Kentucky vying for the WR1 spot, visited Raiola at the quarterback’s home in Georgia during the decision process.

“He’s growing up really quick,” running back Emmett Johnson said. “He’s learned a lot from last season. He’s seen what it takes to play in the Big Ten.”

Raiola’s completion rate in the fourth quarter dropped from 68.1 percent to 61.8. His yards per attempt fell from 7.7 in the first three quarters to 4.6 in the fourth.

On third down, Raiola completed 56.8 percent (54 of 95) of his throws, 14 points lower than on first and second down.

Advertisement

There’s room to improve.

Raiola started the process by watching film of the Huskers’ close defeats last year. Five losses came by a combined 29 points in a 7-6 season.

“As much as it hurts watching, you have to,” Raiola said.

He’d prefer to avoid tight outcomes. It’s not a reality in the Big Ten, though.

“That’s when you win games,” Raiola said. “That’s when you make money.”

Advertisement

Holgorsen is already deep into a process to revamp Nebraska’s two-minute offense. If up to Raiola, Holgorsen said, the Huskers would operate up-tempo at all times.

“But he also understands who his dad is and who his uncle is,” Holgorsen said, “and the importance of being physical and tough and being able to run the football.”

Raiola’s father, Dominic, of course, earned All-America honors as a center at Nebraska and played 14 years in the NFL. Dominic’s brother, Donovan Raiola, coaches the Huskers’ offensive line.

Dylan’s got the football DNA of an offensive lineman. He’s savvy like an O-lineman, too, Holgorsen said he’s learned since November. When the coach corners Raiola to discuss the nuance of a new play in the Huskers’ repertoire, the sophomore often cuts Holgorsen off to explain the play himself.

“I’ve never been with a quarterback,” Holgorsen said, “that is comfortable in the gun and can sit in the pocket and be a dropback passer — but also get under center and make run-game checks. He’s exceptional at it. And so we’re going to do it.

Advertisement

“He’s smart. He understands football.”

This offseason, Raiola also understands the importance of getting in the best shape of his playing career. Rhule introduced the topic publicly in February. On March 11, the coach said that Raiola knows he “won’t be a great quarterback at 240 pounds.”

Raiola, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, went to work this winter. He added a boxing workout to his morning regimen. He ran a mile after lifting sessions and added more cardio sessions.

“If I’m being honest, it sucks,” Raiola said Thursday. “It’s a constant grind every day. You don’t see change right away. It doesn’t change in a day. It doesn’t change in a week.”

His dad played a big role in the change, the QB said. Raiola credited Nebraska’s strength and nutrition staff. Over spring break, Raiola said, his weight loss efforts broke through. He returned to Lincoln last weekend nine or 10 pounds lighter than when he left.

Advertisement

“I feel amazing right now,” he said.

His outlook for 2025 is on the rise.

(Photo: Mitch Sherman / The Athletic)



Source link

Advertisement

Nebraska

Mental health by the numbers in Nebraska

Published

on

Mental health by the numbers in Nebraska


OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A deeper look tonight as First Alert 6 continues to dig deeper into the state of mental health care in Nebraska and possible solutions, ever since last week’s two instances involving law enforcement.

A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy was shot responding to a domestic call. Investigators said the suspect, Brian Huggins, had a history of behavioral health issues. Huggins died by suicide.

And then Noemi Guzman, who police say kidnapped a 3-year-old from inside an Omaha Walmart and cut him in the arm and face with a stolen kitchen knife. Omaha police officers shot and killed her before she could strike again.

Guzman had been on a court-ordered mental health treatment plan since last summer for her schizophrenia. According to court records, psychiatrists determined she could live in the community. Remember, this was after she was arrested for setting her father’s house on fire and threatening a priest with a knife.

Advertisement

Monitoring system

We wanted to know who is part of the system monitoring those who may not be following their mental health treatment plan and are a risk to others or themselves. When that happens, the Board of Mental Health will often notify the local sheriff so a warrant can be issued and deputies can track the individual down.

Here are the numbers since 2023:

In 2023, 842 warrants were issued for those not following their treatment plans according to the Board of Mental Health. In 2024, 756. In 2025, 690. So far in 2026, 190.

But out of these 2,500 warrants, 85% of them didn’t have a second warrant, meaning deputies picked them up, got them back into treatment and the individuals continued to thrive after the one hiccup.

But in 15% of these cases, the individuals messed up again and had another warrant issued by the Board of Mental Health. Twenty-five individuals had five or more issued in Douglas County.

Advertisement

Sheriff Hanson said there has to be a better way, a more team approach for this.

One model to explore is the way Nebraska’s problem-solving courts work like drug court and veterans’ treatment court where experts from a variety of stakeholders help individuals who are on the fringes to do everything to make them productive citizens.

Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Nebraska

‘Nothing can hold me back’: Nebraska teen scores on first play after open heart surgery

Published

on

‘Nothing can hold me back’: Nebraska teen scores on first play after open heart surgery


(InvestigateTV) — Sometimes sports are about more than the final score.

For Jack Burke, a high school football player in Nebraska, a medical diagnosis at birth has never stopped him from competing — and a touchdown catch in his first play back from open heart surgery proved it.

Born with a rare heart defect

Burke was born with Scimitar syndrome, a rare heart defect in which babies are born with an underdeveloped right lung and pulmonary artery. The condition also affects blood flow to the right lung. Treatment often includes surgery, and many adults with the condition go on to live healthy lives.

“As a kid, I never really understood,” Burke said. “It was always natural for me that I had to push myself harder to keep up.”

Advertisement

His mother, Bridget Burke, says the condition was not initially considered dangerous for sports participation.

“His Scimitar Syndrome never really came into play as being dangerous for him to play sports,” she said.

The decision to operate

That changed in the spring of 2025, when Burke’s family and doctors decided it was time for a surgery that had been anticipated for years.

“I’ve kind of known I’ve had to get surgery my whole life,” Burke said. “Once I knew I could get the surgery sooner, I was all in. I wanted to get it so I could get back to sports.”

His father, Ryan Burke, says the timing was deliberate.

Advertisement

“This will be done before school gets started, and still have a chance to do almost everything you want to do,” Ryan Burke said.

Jack Burke underwent open-heart surgery, leaving a visible reminder of what he went through.

“There’s a six-inch scar in the middle of his chest that represents a pretty big thing that happened,” Ryan Burke said.

For Bridget Burke, the moment her son was taken to the operating room was difficult.

“When the rubber hits the road and your kid is being wheeled back to the OR, it is scary and emotional,” she said.

Advertisement

The comeback

Burke eased back into football following his cardiologist’s recommended recovery timeline. His return came in week three of the season.

“Before the Schuyler game I talked to his dad and he’s like, ‘I think we might be ready,’” said coach Jay Landstrom.

Bridget Burke says the family approached the return with caution.

“I mean, I was nervous. We didn’t really know how much he would play. It was going to be some cautious situations,” she said.

Those concerns were set aside — at least for a moment — when Burke caught a touchdown pass on his very first play back.

Advertisement

“All the parents were high-fiving everybody and they were like, ‘Was that really Jack?’” Bridget Burke said.

Landstrom called it a special moment.

“It was just meant to be and that was really special,” he said.

For Burke, the touchdown meant something beyond the scoreboard.

“I just remember one of my teammates came up to me and said, ‘He’s back. He’s back,’” Burke said. “It kind of shows something that tried to stop me — I hurdled that obstacle.”

Advertisement

Burke says the surgery has given him a new sense of freedom.

“Now I can do whatever I want. Nothing can hold me back,” he said.

Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Nebraska

Nebraska Lottery results: See winning numbers for Pick 3, Pick 5 on April 19, 2026

Published

on


The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing

4-3-3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Advertisement

Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 19 drawing

14-19-24-30-34

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from April 19 drawing

Red Balls: 01-02, White Balls: 09-26

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning MyDay numbers from April 19 drawing

Month: 08, Day: 16, Year: 61

Advertisement

Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing

32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
  • 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
  • MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending