Donovan Raiola is the younger brother of former Nebraska and current Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola. Donovan attended Kamehameha High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Donovan served as team captain and was named first team all-state as a senior. He accepted a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin where he sat out the 2001 season as a redshirt. As a sophomore he served primarily as a reserve offensive lineman, seeing action in five games including one start for injured right guard Jonathan Clinkscale. He earned the starting center job as a sophomore, becoming the first sophomore to start at the position since Casey Rabach in 1998. He started all 13 games that season and was named honorable mention all-big ten for his performance. As a junior he started all 12 games and was named honorable mention all-big ten for the second consecutive season. Donovan was again in the starting lineup for the third consecutive season in 2005, opening hoes for Brian Calhoun, who ran for over 1,800 yards on the year.

Donovan Raiola has a great deal of experience against top competition, having started at center for the Wisconsin Badgers over the past three seasons in the big ten. He is an intelligent player and a good leader of the offensive line who served as team captain both in high school and at Wisconsin. He is quick off the snap and displays good footwork in pass protection. He is a strong player who displays good technique. He is not a great athlete but he does have the ability to get to the second level in the running game. He lacks great size and will get overpowered by larger defensive tackles at times. He lacks the mean streak you like to see in an offensive lineman and he needs to work on finishing his blocks. Donovan while not the prospect his brother was, is a solid prospect who could play guard or center in the NFL. He should be a late round pick in the 2006 NFL draft.