How does 2024 No. 1 recruit Dylan Raiola compare to top 2023 QBs?

As the 2024 On300 ranking has been updated and updated throughout the year, Dylan Raiola has been a constant tentpole at the start of the list.

The No. 1 recruit in the On300 since the initial ranking dropped in March, Raiola has emerged as the consensus top prospect in the country. He is ranked by all four major recruiting companies as the No. 1 recruit in the class.

“Anytime we rank a prospect No. 1, very rarely is it going to be a set in stone situation,” Power said, “Especially this early, it’s always fluid. As it pertains to this update, there wasn’t a ton of challenges to him at this point.”

With Raiola once again settled atop the On300, it has raised a question that has been lurking underneath the surface for months: is Raiola the top prospect in the country, regardless of recruiting class?

There is no straightforward answer to the question.

“There’s a lot of boxes that I would argue that he checks,” On3 Scouting and Rankings Assistant Cody Bellaire said. “He checks more boxes than a good amount of these 2023 guys.”

How Raiola has separated himself in the 2024 recruiting class

Dylan Raiola transferred from Burleson (Texas) High in the winter to Chandler (Ariz.) High, which is one of the best high school programs in Arizona.

The Ohio State commit has smoothly made the transition, and he has been even more efficient than last season. He has thrown for 1198 yards and 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions with a completion percentage of over 70% in only six games.

The big difference between the two teams has been the competition Chandler plays compared to its talent. Chandler High is 6-0 on the season with an average margin of victory of over 33 points. Only one game has been decided by two scores.

Because of this, Raiola hasn’t had to play many full games. He also hasn’t been asked to dominate from start to finish at the quarterback position. He might not light up the scorebooks like he did last year, but he is demonstrating that he can be successful in different schemes.

“He’s probably shown this year at Chandler that he can operate within the structure of an offense and doesn’t always have to be the tip of the spear, so to speak,” Power said. “We might see more of just like him being a true playmaker, as they get in the playoffs and if they’re challenged more.”

At Burleson, Raiola had to be much more of a gunslinger than he does for Chandler. He averaged 29 attempts per game last season. This year, he hasn’t thrown more than 21 in a game.

His stats are down this year because of that difference but Raiola is still making winning plays that will translate to the next level.

“Every game, you see him do what he has to do to move the chains, get the ball in the end zone and ultimately lead to wins,” Bellaire said.

Only one other quarterback prospect in the 2024 On300 is ranked in the top 10: Willis (Texas) four-star DJ Lagway.

Lagway is an elite quarterback in his own right, and both are standout baseball players. Power and Bellaire both think he has a lot of tools. But Raiola has his own bag of tools and traits that no one else can touch right now in 2024. He has elite arm talent, is comfortable in the pocket, can extend plays, has a nice, quick release, and he has a fantastic family pedigree.

Plus, the No. 1 prospect has been remarkably consistent.

“It is impressive how advanced he is as a passer for his age,” Bellaire said. “To be honest with you, I don’t think anybody’s really even close.”

How Dylan Raiola compares to the 2023 recruiting class

Comparing players across recruiting classes can be a challenge, especially at a position like quarterback where game experience is such a critical part of the evaluation.

Power said the extra year of development and playing an underclassman has over an underclassman is a critical piece of the puzzle. He places a lot of weight on senior seasons so that is something he focused on. But even without that extra piece for Dylan Raiola, he would stand out among the 2023 group.

“From a physical standpoint, Raiola and even DJ Lagway, they would stack up physically and just from a skill set perspective among the top quarterbacks in the 2023,” Power said. “I think the main difference to this point is most of the quarterbacks in 2023 have just played a lot more. That experience of high school will really kind of mold you as a player going forward. It may be a little unfair to compare Raiola, who has played a season and a half of varsity football, to some like Arch Manning, who has been a four-year starter. I think from a pure talent perspective, he would stack up in that top group.”

The 2023 On300 ranking has two quarterbacks ranked as its top two players: the aforementioned Arch Manning and Nico Iamaleava.

Power said Manning, Iamaleava and Raiola all have different things that really sets them apart from the others. Iamaleava’s is his pure athleticism, twitchiness and arm strength, although Raiola’s arm talent comes very close to the 6-foot-6 Iamaleava. For Manning, it is his quick release and continual development.

Off-platform ability and creativity are second-to-none

Raiola’s standout traits involve his creativity and ability to make plays. Early comparisons have been made to Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.

“He probably has the most pliable arm with some stuff he can do with like throwing off platform and just being like maybe creative as a pure passer,” Power said.

Power noted that Raiola and Manning are built very similarly. Manning is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds while Raiola is 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. He just wants to see Raiola continue to grow and develop in his high school career, which he has been doing.

Bellaire said it is a fair discussion to debate Manning vs. Raiola as prospects. For him, the “ace in the hole” for the debate is Manning’s family pedigree and what that brings to the table in terms of knowledge and processing. To Bellaire, that “trump card trumps everybody that ever existed,” which is saying something considering Raiola is the son of a 14-year NFL pro and former collegiate water polo player.

The debate for Raiola as the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect will continue on, especially as the top of the 2023 class remains unsettled. But for Bellaire, that designation won’t have any effect on what he expects from Raiola at the next level.

“The dude’s gonna be phenomenal.”