Rich get richer: Georgia Bulldogs secure commitment from No. 1 prospect

The rich have gotten demonstrably richer.

The Georgia Bulldogs, who rolled over TCU in January to secure their second consecutive national championship, have secured a commitment from the No. 1 overall high school prospect in the Class of 2024, quarterback Dylan Raiola.

Raiola, who is currently enrolled at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona, made the announcement Monday on his Twitter profile, saying: ‘Athens, GA is Home!!! I’m a Dawg!! Go Dawgs.’

Raiola had transferred to Pinnacle in December after he played last season at Chandler High School.

Raiola had committed to Ohio State in May 2022, but de-committed from the Buckeyes in December. In an interview with ESPN, Raiola explained why he chose the Bulldogs over USC and Nebraska.

‘There’s a culture and a standard that I was attracted to,’ Raiola told ESPN. ‘The more time that went by, the stronger I felt about Georgia and ultimately led to this decision.’

Raiola is ranked the No. 1 overall prospect by most major recruiting services, including ESPN, Rivals and 247 Sports.

Who is new Georgia Bulldog football commit Dylan Raiola?

Raiola lists his height and weight on his Twitter account as 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. His numbers in his junior season were actually lower than his sophomore stats, when he completed 65.1% of his throws for 3,341 yards, 32 touchdowns and five interceptions for Burleson High School in Texas, per MaxPreps. Raiola worked some with Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs in Texas during this most recent offseason. Raiola said he’s been working more on his speed and quickness.

Raiola is the son of former long-time NFL offensive lineman Dominic Raiola, who played 14 seasons in the league, all with the Lions. Dylan Raiola had been considering Nebraska, which is where his father played college football and won the Rimington Trophy, given to the best center in college football, in 2000. For six seasons, Dominic Raiola was the center for former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford — a former Georgia player whom Detroit selected No. 1 overall in the 2009 NFL draft.

‘The substance behind (Georgia’s) success is the biggest factor,’ Raiola told ESPN. ‘Coach (Kirby) Smart has built this program to last and I’m excited and honored to be a part of it. Whether it’s in the classroom, on the field, or in the weight room, I know I’ll be pushed to be my best every day.’