Dylan Raiola isn’t headed to Texas Tech, and while that’s not exactly shocking on the football side, it’s definitely ironic if you’ve followed his whole deal.
On3’s Pete Nakos reported this week that the Red Raiders aren’t expected to be a factor in Raiola’s transfer recruitment, and yeah, it’s a little funny when you remember this is the kid who’s spent the last couple of years trying to be a Patrick Mahomes clone. Everything from the way he throws, the arm angles, even the little no-look stuff, Raiola has leaned into the Mahomes comparisons harder than just about anyone. The only thing he hasn’t done is play at the place Mahomes actually built his name.
That’s why there was some natural curiosity when Raiola entered the portal. Would he take his act to Lubbock and try to walk that same path? Would Joey McGuire kick the tires on a kid who’s got five-star tools and a massive following? Apparently not. According to Nakos, Tech isn’t even in the picture, and it sounds like they’re not trying to be.
Now, Texas Tech’s quarterback room isn’t exactly empty. They’ve already got their guy in Behren Morton, but a hot name to watch in the portal is Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby. But still, given all the Mahomes branding Raiola wrapped himself in, this feels like the obvious connection that never had legs.
That doesn’t mean Raiola’s options are limited. He’s going to have no shortage of interest, especially from schools that missed out on their first swing in the portal. And for all the attention he draws, the kid can still sling it. He’s got the size, the arm, and the upside to make a splash wherever he lands.
But let’s be real, it would’ve been wild to see him in that Tech uniform, even if just for the storyline. Instead, Red Raiders fans can ignore the short-lived chapter of the “what if” book Raiola’s been writing.