Oregon Quarterback Dylan Raiola Looks Different to One Ducks Receiver

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dylan Raiola is locker buddies with receiver Jeremiah McClellan, who offers a unique perspective on the changes in the quarterback.

dylan raiola oregon ducks football evan stewart nebraska cornhuskers dan lanning autzen stadium dante moore transfer portal | oregon ducks on si Will Seibert

EUGENE - Oregon Ducks quarterback Dylan Raiola may be the most talked about backup quarterback in college football. It's not often a two-year starter of a Big Ten Conference program transfers to another Big Ten team to learn and develop behind a potential Heisman Trophy candidate... But that's the exact situation for Raiola and Oregon star Dante Moore.

Raiola made the decision to join the Ducks program before Moore elected to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft but Oregon coach Dan Lanning and Raiola have made it clear that he made that choice knowing that Moore coming back to Eugene was a definitely possibility.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dylan Raiola | oregon ducks on si Will Seibert

Raiola moved to Eugene in the winter of 2026, participated in spring football and flash forward to Oregon football fall camp... He's transformed, per Oregon receiver Jeremiah McClellan.

Oregon Receiver Jeremiah McClellan Doesn't Hold Back on Dylan Raiola

Raiola has undergone a noticeable transformation since arriving in Eugene.

“I would say from Dylan, whenever he first got here in the spring, you could tell he was a little timid, a little nervous, just into a new system and things like that,” McClellan said.

Oregon wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan encourages kids during a youth football camp at Marist Catholic High School on June 20, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

It's not easy to be the newcomer trying to learn a new offense. However, McClellan said the difference has been visible in Raiola’s comfort on the team, and performance on the practice field.

“And now, just him being more comfortable, watching him like today, he had an amazing throw,” McClellan said after Oregon's 13th fall football practice.

McClellan has been able to observe Raiola’s adjustment from unique perspective. The receiver revealed that the two are locker neighbors, giving them another opportunity to build chemistry away from the field and get to know each other better as people.

“I just had to compliment him in there again today,” McClellan said. “He’s my locker buddy, so he’s getting way more comfortable on offense, learning, playing fast too now. So, he’s doing amazing.”

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan hauls in a touchdown reception as the Oregon Ducks host the Oregon State Beavers Sept. 20, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Notably, McClellan made sure to point out that Raiola is processing faster and faster. It sounds like Raiola is now playing free and confident.

Raiola has been open about the challenge of learning the new playbook while also rehabbing his broken fibula when he first arrived in Eugene.

Raiola has two years of eligibility left and is competing in a deep quarterbacks room that contains junior Brock Thomas, who won the backup job last season, redshirt freshman Akili Smith Jr., sophomore Ryder Hayes and redshirt freshman Mark Wiepert.

Although Moore remains the established leader of the offense, Raiola’s progress could provide Oregon with valuable depth at the sport’s most important position.

Dan Lanning Sees 'Night and Day' Difference In Raiola

McClellan's comments echo the same sentiment that Lanning had after Oregon's first fall scrimmage.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dylan Raiola, transfer from Nebraska Cornhuskers | Oregon Football

“Yeah, Dylan’s gotten a lot better,” Lanning said. “He looks like a night-and-day different player from when he got here in the spring.”

Raiola represents a rare potential succession plan for the Ducks. In 2026, he has the chance to learn behind Moore allows him to develop without the immediate pressure of carrying the offense. At the same time, his progress gives the Ducks another 5-star, former Big Ten starting quarterback if needed this season.

Raiola is now healthy after breaking his right fibula in November of 2025, which prematurely ended his sophomore season at Nebraska.

Fighting Ducks quarterback Dylan Raiola throws a pass during the Oregon Ducks annual spring game on April 25, 2026 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Raiola's freshman season put him on the map in the Big Ten. He started immediately for the Cornhuskers in the tough Big Ten and finished with 2,819 yards, leading all FBS freshmen and setting Nebraska’s freshman passing record. He also helped Nebraska reach its first bowl game since 2016.

Raiola was still able to complete 72 percent of his passes during his sophomore season in 2025, despite poor protection and the season-ending injury.

Raiola is a clear student of the game who pulled back the curtain on his growth in the Oregon football program.

"That's the beauty about this place is there's constant growth, and you can never, you're never going to be allowed to be just satisfied and be okay where you're at. So in order to get where we want to go, we've got to keep pushing, and our team is willing to do that, and I'm very excited," Raiola said.

For Raiola, the transition to Oregon remains an ongoing process. Based on what McClellan (and Lanning) have witnessed since the spring, however, the quarterback is beginning to look and play like he belongs.

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