Kirk Herbstreit has denied any significant involvement in Dylan Raiola’s decision to commit to Nebraska. Raiola, a highly sought-after five-star recruit, surprised the college football community when he chose to decommit from Georgia and play for his father Dominic’s alma mater instead. This was seen as a major recruiting victory for Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Dominic suggested that Herbstreit had influenced his son’s decision to choose Nebraska. Dominic claimed that Herbstreit had urged Dylan to commit. Herbstreit, on the other hand, has a different recollection of the events.
In a conversation with Paul Finebaum, Herbstreit acknowledged that he had spoken to Dylan’s father on the phone but disputed Dominic’s account of the conversation. He clarified that he never tried to dissuade anyone from going to Georgia or promote Nebraska. Instead, Herbstreit said he simply praised Matt Rhule as a coach and a good person, expressing his belief that Rhule could bring success to Nebraska, much like he did with Temple and Baylor. Herbstreit emphasized that his focus during the call was on the family’s connection to Lincoln and the legacy they had there.
Both Dominic Raiola and Kirk Herbstreit have presented conflicting versions of the phone call. Dominic insists that Herbstreit played a significant role in influencing his son’s decision, while Herbstreit maintains that it was just a friendly conversation. Herbstreit even pointed out that he and Dominic are not particularly close friends, raising doubts about the extent of his influence over Dylan’s recruitment. The truth of the matter lies solely with the two individuals who were on the call.
Ultimately, the specifics of this situation may not hold much importance for Nebraska fans. Dylan Raiola is now part of the team’s roster and could potentially be their starting quarterback when the season begins. The differing accounts of the phone call between Dominic Raiola and Kirk Herbstreit may leave room for speculation, but the outcome remains unchanged.
According to the Source outkick.com