ICYMI: Nebraska football offensive line hit with devastating season-ending injury
The Nebraska football team is gearing up for the second year under head coach Matt Rhule, and this season is critical for the Cornhuskers. Approaching a decade-long bowl drought, Nebraska needs a strong performance following their 5-7 record in 2023 to prove Rhule is the right coach for the job. Unfortunately, they received bad news on Tuesday about offensive lineman Teddy Prochazka.
Prochazka, who was expected to be a starter on the offensive line, will miss the entire 2024 season due to a torn ACL sustained during practice on Monday. This is a significant setback for the Cornhuskers, who have been struggling to catch a break.
“Nebraska coach Matt Rhule is here after practice,” Mitch Sherman reported. “Teddy Prochazka suffered a torn ACL on Monday in practice. He’s out for the season. Was a primary contender to start at left tackle.”
This is a tough situation for Nebraska for several reasons. Losing a player to injury at this time of year is always hard, especially someone like Prochazka, who had been working diligently all offseason to secure a starting role for the 2024 season, only to have it end just days into camp.
The primary goal of camp is to keep everyone healthy as they compete for starting positions, but football is a demanding sport, and injuries are common. Despite this, it’s never easy to see a player go down.
Nebraska has high hopes for the 2024 season, with a favorable schedule setting them up for a potential breakout year. However, luck has not been on their side during their recent struggles. The injury to Prochazka is yet another blow to the Cornhuskers’ chances this season.
A look at the Nebraska football offensive line
With Teddy Prochazka out for the year, let’s examine the rest of the Nebraska football offensive line and who might step into his spot.
Prochazka was the projected starter at left tackle, and his absence opens the door for redshirt freshman Gunnar Gottula. Originally the backup at the position, this injury could lead to a more experienced player from another position on the offensive line moving over to fill the gap.
Justin Evans is expected to start at left guard, Ben Scott at center, Turner Corcoran at right guard, and Bryce Benhart at right tackle. Scott, Corcoran, and Benhart are all seniors, providing Nebraska with valuable experience up front. Evans, a sophomore, could now face competition from senior transfer Micah Mazzccua for a starting spot.
Prochazka’s injury complicates things for Nebraska as they head into the season, but the presence of several upperclassmen on the offensive line will be crucial in picking up the slack. The Cornhuskers will need to adopt a “next man up” mentality to navigate this challenge.