Dylan Raiola's message to Huskers fans: 'Buckle up, it's gonna be a fun ride'

Dylan Raiola may have been highly touted coming out of high school but he's still a true freshman who is just days away from not only playing his first college football game, which will be played in front of nearly 90,000 fans at Memorial Stadium, but also starting it at quarterback.

Yet, a day after Nebraska head football coach Matt Rhule said the team has no intention of easing Raiola into things in his first start , Raiola showed no sign of nerves of anxiety.

When asked Tuesday if he has any message to Huskers fans, he paused for a couple of seconds, then replied, "Buckle up, it's gonna be a fun ride."

Related: Dylan Raiola officially named Huskers starting QB

If the Nebraska faithful weren't excited enough for the start of the new season and the program's highest-rated commit in nearly 20 years, that statement should do the trick.

He's looked beyond his years since he arrived at Nebraska, the the Huskers are banking on him playing like it this season.

Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said Tuesday that Raiola is obviously talented but also attacks things like a professional.

“Just his maturity at 18 years old, his work ethic, his steadiness, his composure, he’s shown all those attributes at practice," Satterfield said.

The coach added that Raiola has "elite arm talent," both in its strength and accuracy, and all of that together should help him be successful right away.

Raiola had been competing with fellow true freshman Daniel Kaelin and junior Heinrich Haarberg for the starting job all spring and summer, although he was the presumed frontrunner all along. Satterfield said each of the quarterbacks had "a bunch of moments" in practices but Raiola showed he was the right one to start.

“The way he operated the offense, I think it was pretty clear he was the guy," Satterfield said.

Junior tight end Thomas Fidone II said Raiola embodies the phrase "magic in the minutiae" because he does all of the little things right.

Senior wide receiver Jahmal Banks, who transferred in over the offseason from Wake Forest, said the true freshman can extend plays, throw the ball wherever it needs to be and plays hard.

Raiola said the guys around him — including Banks and Fidone, who are expected to have big roles this season — are one of the reasons he doesn't feel overwhelmed heading into Saturday's season-opener against UTEP.

“Just trusting the training, trusting the guys around me,” Raiola said, adding that the coaches prepare them well.

He described his plan on Saturday like it was as routine as getting dressed for the day.

“Let my guys run the show and get the ball out wherever they need to be, and just have fun, just like when I was a kid, playing the game, so I’m excited,” he said.

While he knows defenses will throw a lot at him and there will be learning experiences — a challenge he said he's excited for as a competitor — Raiola also expressed confidence in his ability and the potential of Nebraska's offense.

“We have everything we need. All our guns are loaded and ready to fire,” he said.

Saturday will be the first chance to see what kind of damage they can do.