Three-Level Stance: Dylan Raiola, Louisville, high 10 outcomes

Rivals nationwide recruiting director Adam Gorney has ideas on 2024 No. 1 Dylan Raiola, Louisville’s opening loss and whether or not the recruiting class will keep intact, and he breaks down what he noticed from the AP high 10 groups through the opening weekend of school soccer:

I noticed Dylan Raiola play Friday night time. It was extra than simply play – he dominated, he seemed like one million bucks doing it and I’m blissful we moved him to No. 1 within the 2024 rankings. The Chandler, Ariz., quarterback is nice sufficient to be in consideration for the highest billing within the 2023 class as nicely.

Raiola was nice this summer season on the Steve Clarkson QB Retreat however with pads on he appears to be like like a combination between Justin Fields and Patrick Mahomes. He’s the identical peak and about 10 kilos lighter than these two NFL quarterbacks, however Raiola has an exceptional body and completely appears to be like the half.

The 2024 five-star transferred from Burleston, Texas, to Chandler for his junior season and is already the unequivocal chief of the staff – even main the group in prayer after the sport. In a blowout, he was the primary man congratulating the subs after they did one thing nicely. It didn’t come off as phony or pressured.

The rationale Chandler was up a lot was as a result of Raiola is totally phenomenal at operating an offense. He checks on the line. He strikes folks round. And with the ball in his arms he’s phenomenal throwing quick stuff (like when he lobbed an exquisite display move over the line of defense) or bombing it down the sphere.

Not solely does he make all of it look really easy however Raiola additionally makes it seem like a lot of in the present day’s NFL quarterbacks. It’s uncanny how related he appears to be like to Mahomes on the sphere with the off-platform throws, off-balance throws, sidearm supply when wanted and simply the correct quantity of gunslinger combined in with accountable decision-maker.

There are others I actually like within the 2024 class – Desmond Ricks is an excellent lockdown nook, Jeremiah Smith is a dominant, high-level receiver and Colin Simmons is a good edge rusher. However I don’t suppose it’s all that shut proper now.

Raiola comes from an NFL pedigree as his father, Dominic, was a second-round NFL Draft choose and performed for greater than a decade with the Detroit Lions. His uncle, Donovan, performed within the league and now coaches at Nebraska.

We thought so extremely of Texas QB Quinn Ewers that when he reclassified to 2021, we moved him to No. 1 within the class. There’s no indication Raiola is contemplating such a transfer but when he did, that very same thought would cross my thoughts – even with Texas QB commit Arch Manning the present No. 1 participant in 2023.

Scott Satterfield is now 18-20 at Louisville and after going 8-5 in his first season, the Cardinals have had dropping information in back-to-back years and suffered an unpleasant loss Saturday to a mean Syracuse staff.

Satterfield entered this season on a comparatively heat seat and after dropping 31-7 to the Orange, issues might need gotten turned up a bit of extra. It received’t get simpler for Louisville, which visits UCF and hosts Florida State in its subsequent two video games.

Right here’s the difficulty although: Louisville has pieced collectively a top-20 recruiting class with eight four-stars which is at present greater than Oregon, USC, Baylor and plenty of different applications.

The No. 1 all-purpose again within the nation, Rueben Owens II, is pledged to the Cardinals. So is the No. 1 dual-threat QB in Pierce Clarkson together with some elite Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco teammates. 4-stars Madden Sanker, William Fowles, Stanquan Clark and others are high-level gamers.

In no less than the final 10 recruiting courses, Louisville has by no means completed within the high 20 of the staff rankings so this might find yourself being one of many Cardinals’ finest courses ever.

However what is going to the Louisville decision-makers do if Satterfield doesn’t flip this system right into a winner this season. Preserve him and hope this recruiting class stays intact or transfer in one other course however threat dropping all these elite prospects?

Alabama: The Crimson Tide crushed Utah State. No huge shock. Bryce Young was superior. No huge shock. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Alabama-Texas line stand up to round 20 earlier than kickoff.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes seemed completely different Saturday night time and it wasn’t essentially in a nasty means. They had been extra bodily, extra centered on the run, not pushing the ball downfield by way of the passing sport and that was as a result of Jaxon Smith-Njigba obtained harm and Notre Dame’s protection wasn’t going to surrender the deep ball. However I’d have the Buckeyes third in my rankings.

Georgia: An absolute masterclass destruction of an Oregon staff that seemed prefer it wasn’t ready for that degree of warmth and didn’t need any a part of it. There was no nationwide championship hangover or many rising pains on protection. To beat Georgia this season goes to take a complete lot and perhaps solely Alabama has it, if even the Crimson Tide.

Clemson: The Tigers open Monday night time after this story runs. The protection must be overwhelming to Georgia Tech. All eyes are on the offense and whether or not it might probably transfer the ball and rating greater than final season.

Notre Dame: The Irish impressed me Saturday even in a dropping effort. It was almost an unimaginable state of affairs opening at Ohio State however QB Tyler Buchner was spectacular, there are playmakers rising and the protection battled like loopy. I wouldn’t be shocked if ND was 7-1 heading into the Clemson sport in early November.

Texas A&M: This felt like a sport – towards Sam Houston State after which with that lengthy climate delay – that the Aggies simply needed to endure and get by way of. A 31-0 win was superb however a lot more durable competitors is forward. Texas A&M has all of the expertise on the earth however the schedule does get difficult.

Utah: The Utes did precisely what was anticipated of them Saturday night time at Florida – play its methodical sport, grind down the Gators and be in placing distance of the win. However Cam Rising made one errant throw on the ultimate drive and that was the deciding issue. One wonders what occurs if Rising throws that ball away, Utah kicks the sphere purpose and the sport goes to additional time.

Michigan: A warmup towards an overmatched staff is what Michigan may count on for some time because the Wolverines have put collectively a fairly simple schedule early within the season. Colorado State? Hawaii? UConn? These are all snoozers. Michigan in all probability outclasses Maryland and Iowa higher enhance on offense tenfold if it needs to hold with the Wolverines. It may be some time to see what this Michigan staff is admittedly all about.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma did what Oklahoma was presupposed to do towards a lesser opponent – overwhelm them early and cruise to a simple victory. The Sooners transfer on and greater exams can be coming however this appears to be like like an actual contender proper now.

Baylor: We will’t be taught a lot from Baylor shellacking lowly Albany. Let’s see how powerful the Bears are after touring to BYU this weekend.