Dylan Raiola says the broken ankle he brought with him to Oregon is no longer holding him back.
The Ducks quarterback, who arrived in Eugene after his sophomore season ended with an ankle injury, said he feels better now than he did before the setback. That was the big takeaway when Raiola addressed his recovery and the work he put in over the offseason.
"Yeah, that's true. I kind of did everything this off season.
Changed my body around, speed. You know, I feel I feel better than I did before when I was healthy without my ankle," Raiola said.
That’s encouraging news for Oregon, which expects Raiola to spend this season behind Dante Moore. Even if his role is limited, the Ducks need him healthy enough to handle backup duties and be ready if called upon. The ideal setup for Oregon is to keep him on the sideline except for late-game work, but getting him comfortable in the offense as early as possible still matters.
Raiola’s production before the injury showed why he’s such a notable addition. In nine games, he completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns, with 6 interceptions and an average of 8.0 yards per attempt.
He also explained how long Oregon had been on his radar. For Raiola, it started when he was around 9 years old, and Marcus Mariota was the reason.
"Probably nine years old. Famous guy named Marcus Mariota played quarterback here, and just growing up on the island, and then watching him his career go from St.
Louis to Oregon, doing what he did here, and then what he's still doing in the league," Raiola said. "That's when my attention was first drawn here, and then in high school, you know, they recruited me, and I loved it.
God had different plans, but I know everything happens for a reason. He tied it all in and brought me back here."
Raiola is the latest big-name quarterback to land at Oregon through the transfer portal, joining a line that includes Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel and Moore. Nix and Gabriel both stepped in immediately in Eugene and are now in the NFL, while Moore followed a similar path to Raiola by spending a season behind Gabriel. Moore is expected to be a top prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft.
For Raiola, the path ahead is still taking shape. But he has already entered a program with a deep and well-known quarterback lineage, one that includes Mariota and Justin Herbert in recent memory.
In Other News...
Gernorris Wilson Just Reentered Oregons Tackle Battle
Gernorris Wilson finally got his first crack at right tackle last season, a milestone that should have been the start of a bigger run on Oregons offensive line. Instead, the junior was sidelined by the kind of setback that can stall a development path in a hurry, leaving the Ducks to keep sorting through their tackle options without one of the players they had hoped to evaluate more fully.
Wilson is back in the mix now, and the timing matters with fall camp approaching. He says he expects to be ready for full work when camp opens, and he is preparing to battle for a starting job while also showing the flexibility Oregon values up front. For a line that always seems to be in motion, that kind of versatility can be as important as any single position win. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Just Raised The Stakes For Oregon's New-Look Offense
Oregons offense is entering camp with a different voice at the top, and the early read from the players is that the transition has been smooth. At media day, offensive lineman Kawika Rogers spoke positively about Drew Mehringer, who has stepped into a larger role in the wake of the coaching change, while Dan Lanning pointed to the value of keeping the system familiar by promoting from within. The head coach also singled out the running back group as part of what makes this version of the Ducks interesting, especially with so many moving pieces around the offense.
The broader theme around the program is that this is not just a reset, it is a chance to build on continuity without losing edge. Nasir Wyatt said his own offseason work showed up on the scale, and he also noted the changes in Matayo Uiagaleleis body and how that can affect the way he moves. For Lanning, the comparison to his national championship Georgia team was less about nostalgia than structure, a reminder that stable leadership can keep a roster confident even when the names and responsibilities shift. [Read more 🡒]
Dana Altman Just Gave Oregons Frontcourt A Big Boost
Oregons frontcourt overhaul got another important piece this week when the Ducks added Arkansas transfer Malique Ewin to the roster, a move made possible after the NCAA granted an additional season of eligibility to the 2022 recruiting class. For Dana Altman, it is another step in reshaping a group that already includes retained big man Sean Stewart and a cluster of new forwards and centers as the program tries to strengthen its interior options.
Ewin brings a winding college path that has taken him through Ole Miss, JUCO, Florida State and Arkansas, and his rise has been one of the more notable parts of his career. For Oregon, the appeal is obvious: he is another experienced body in a frontcourt that needed more depth and more proven production, and the Ducks now have a better sense of what their size rotation could look like heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]