Chandler quarterback Dylan Raiola says he intends to play for Ohio State,
Chandler sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola announced Monday on his 17th birthday from Scottsdale’s Impact Church before friends, family, coaches and teammates that he is going to play college football at Ohio State.
Raiola, 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, is rated the No. 1 2024 football prospect in the country by On3.com. He is the No. 1 quarterback in the country. And he had every major college program offering him.
All this without ever taking his first snap at Chandler.
Raiola moved with his family to Chandler on Dec. 30, after setting Texas high school football on fire with an incredible sophomore season in which he passed for 3,243 yards and 42 touchdowns at Burleson High, where he was coached by 14-year NFL quarterback Jon Kitna.
Coach Rick Garretson said that Raiola has no plans to reclassify to get to Ohio State earlier than 2024.
“He thanked everybody,” Garretson said. “He had his coaches there. His teammates there. The administration there.”
Raiola said there is no chance of reclassifying.
“I don’t want to leave high school any earlier than I need to,” he said. “I want to be with these guys, win a couple of state championships.”
Raiola has been given advice throughout his life from Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who spent most of his career with the Lions and developed a strong relationship with Dominic Raiola, Dylan’s dad, who was his center with the Lions.
“It’s humbling, it’s a blessing,” Raiola told The Arizona Republic in March. “I don’t take anything for granted. Seeing all these schools and being able to talk to people you grew up watching them coach. Me being in the position I’m in, I’m very grateful.”
Garretson said he couldn’t list all of the colleges that offered Raiola, because there are so many of them.
He did love his visit to Columbus, Ohio, where coach Ryan Day wanted Raiola from the start and won’t stop pursuing him until he signs his letter of intent in December 2023.
National champion Georgia recently threw its hat in the ring with an offer to Raiola. Clemson also offered.
“They’ve had a pretty good string of successful quarterbacks,” Garretson said of Ohio State. “Coach Day has had a lot of success with his recent quarterbacks having success and going to the NFL.”
Ohio State was relentless in its pursuit of Raiola, who also figured to have Nebraska in his sights with his father being the Rimington Award winner as the best center in college football with the Cornhuskers.
“He went there a couple of times,” Garretson said about Nebraska. “I know he went to their spring game.
“There are people still coming to watch him. Ohio State keeps recruiting, too. It’s part of the gig.”
Raiola said he told his parents he knew what he wanted and wanted to make it special on his birthday.
“I’m a big believer in ‘If you know, you know,’ “Raiola said. “I knew this is where I wanted to be. The brotherhood and the culture they’ve built there, I wanted to be a part of that.”
He said it was important to make the announcement in church.
“All my big decisions have been in a church,” Raiola said. “That’s been the foundation of who I am as a person, Christ-centered. I wanted to be in the church. My decision was made in church. I’m never forgetting where my roots are and I’m excited for the journey.”
So what makes Raiola the No.1 prospect in America?
Garretson said all you have to do is watch his film from Burleson.