Christensen owns Throw it Deep, where he instructs and trains several high-level quarterbacks at the pro, college, and high school levels. His client list over the years includes names like the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes .
Raiola also works out with Mahomes’s regular trainer in Kansas City, Bobby Stroupe.
Not only did he fly the receivers down for the workout, but he also paid the tab for an Airbnb.
We also heard the offensive line talk about how Raiola has taken them all out multiple times to Isles Pizza in Lincoln and picked up the bill. We have never seen a true freshman enter Nebraska and immediately take on this type of leadership role.
Raiola, though, as we know, is different. He’s the most high-profile recruit to come to Nebraska in years, and he’s here during a new era of college football where he’s presumably the highest-paid NIL athlete ever at NU before even taking a snap on the field.
How has done all this already? Talent. The team recognizes his special arm talent and abilities. If they take a big step forward as a program in 2024, it will be because of Raiola and his golden arm.
2 – Nebraska opened its new training table on Wednesday
A new era of sports dieting and nutrition began on Wednesday with the official opening of the training table in the Tom and Nancy Osborne Legacy Complex.
“The Nebraska Training Table will set the highest standards for culinary excellence and quality, delivering food that is unmatched in flavor, freshness, and presentation with a strong dedication to local sourcing and prioritizing sustainable practices and reducing food waste,” FLIK said in its release. “In addition to the food service, the programming will be enhanced with celebrity chef experiences, hands-on cooking classes, cultural celebrations, coach and player spotlights and beyond.”
NU will be FLIK’s first collegiate partner, and the school will pay them $6 million annually to feed its student-athletes.
Once again, Nebraska is on the cutting edge. Years ago, Nebraska was the country’s first college football program to have a training table for its athletes and hire a full-time sports nutritionist in Dave Ellis.
3 – There will be plenty of intrigue heading into Saturday’s open practice
Saturday’s open practice intrigues me for several different reasons. How will NU’s fundraiser with the 1890 Nebraska collective go?
This is a completely new concept for Nebraska. I give AD Troy Dannen a lot of credit for finding and creating ways to feed the Husker fan base while raising money for something very important—NIL.
The practice will be the Huskers’ fourth, so by rule, they will not be allowed to be in full pads yet. The NCAA Acclimatization Period requires teams to practice five times before they are allowed to go to full pads.
So, from a physicality standpoint, things will be somewhat limited for those in attendance. It’s more of an excellent eyeball test.
The fans in attendance should get a good idea of personnel groupings and other elements of this football team, which will feature several new faces in 2024.
Can they get close to 5,000 fans to attend in the spirit of NIL? I also expect this to be an annual event that gets bigger and better each year. My guess is fans in attendance will get better access to the team afterward than they might at Fan Day later this month.
TWO QUESTIONS THIS WEEK
1 – How concerned are you about the situation at kicker with Tristan Alvano?
The big surprise on Tuesday from head coach Matt Rhule was the news that kicker Tristan Alvano was left off the 120-man Fall Camp roster after undergoing groin surgery this summer. How concerned should we be about this?
On the surface, it’s very concerning. But after talking to a few more folks about the situation on Wednesday, Alvano is expected to be back in action sooner rather than later.
Still, after NU’s bad luck at kicker since 2018, this is concerning. You can blame several things for Nebraska’s one-score losses over that period. Missed opportunities in the kicking game would definitely make my list.
2 – What’s one freshman we aren’t discussing who could emerge in fall camp?
We know the obvious freshmen who will probably play for Nebraska this year : Raiola, Barney, Carter Nelson , and Vincent Shavers . Could another one find his way onto the field in 2024?
I will throw a name out there: Quinn Clark . Physically and athletically, he’s as impressive as any player on the Husker football team. Incredibly, NU got Clark relatively uncontested as a recruit due to his location in Montana.
The staff is as high on his long-term outlook as any freshman on the roster.
DB Marques Buford (Photo: Abby Barmore/HuskerOnline)
ONE PREDICTION: Marques Buford will take some snaps at corner early in the season
We still don’t know who will be Nebraska’s other cornerback this year, opposite of Tommi Hill . There are so many directions this could go for the Huskers.
Today, I’ll make this prediction. Marques Buford will take snaps at cornerback in 2024.
The staff and even Buford have played coy on this subject. The name of the game is getting the best available five on the field and a healthy Buford fits that description. Buford started his career as a cornerback before moving to safety in 2022. I predict we will see him play both the corner and safety positions this year in Tony White’s versatile defense.
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