The Nebraska football team continued fall camp with a practice Tuesday morning. Following practice, Head Coach Matt Rhule gave an injury update and Defensive Line Coach Terrance Knighton spoke about the first week of practice.
Rhule opened media availability with an update on season-ending injuries for Teddy Prochazka and Roger Gradney.
“Roger (Gradney) fell the other night, was carted off the field,” he said. “He tore his ACL and is out for the year. And Teddy Prochazka yesterday, unfortunately tore his ACL as well. Not the same surgical knee, the other knee. Our heart breaks for both of them. For Teddy, this is going on four surgeries for him. It’s a really difficult time for him. He was right there at the team meeting last night with an unbelievable attitude. He embodies everything we believe in, he embodies what’s next. He’ll be a great mentor for Roger (Gradney). We have lots of guys we trust, we’ll play with Turner (Corcoran). He started lots of games last year before he got hurt. We have other options, Gunnar Gottula is running with the ones right now. We have guys that we believe in so we’ll play them.”
Knighton then spoke on the structure surrounding players who are dealing with an injury.
“Everything is just in-line,” he said. “Everyone has a job in the building, everyone has a responsibility. As far as the support staff, the coaching staff, and everyone in the building, the first priority is the players. Anything involving the players comes before anything that we do as coaches, our personal lives, anything. The players come first. We’re going to rally around Teddy (Prochazka). He has battled his way back from other injuries. It’s just another roadblock in his path. Knowing him and my relationship with him, he’s going to fight back, he’s not going to give up. That’s just the type of kids we have on the team. (Thomas) Fidone tore his ACL twice and came back and fought back. We have a lot of guys who have been through adversity, they’re tough guys and they fight back from those things. As coaches and support staff it’s just our job to support them.”
Knighton also spoke on the competition in the defensive line room.
“There’s a lot of competition in the room,” he said. “You have young guys like Ashton (Murphy) and Keona (Davis) who are getting better each day. Young guys that played last year, Cam (Lenhardt), Riley (Van Poppel), they’re taking the next step. James Williams, Kai Wallin, Dylan Parrott, who moved over to the defensive line, is flashing right now. We’ve just got a bunch of guys that are playing well. It’s going to be a tough decision to make at the end of the day. We want 8, 9, 10 guys that can go out there and play at a starter level. Right now, everybody is battling for those positions.”
Knighton then touched on integrating Secondary Coach John Butler into the defensive room, and the skill sets that he brings.
“I think for him it was just getting used to the guys, learning their skill sets,” Knighton said. “Obviously with his pedigree and being in the NFL, naturally as a college guy you’re going to gravitate to that. He’s been doing a great job, he adds a different dynamic to the room. It’s always good when people bring in different ideas, and it’s going to make us better as a group. He’s a fiery guy, he’s super detailed. When we’re in the defensive staff meetings he’s talking about different things that he used to do in the NFL, and it’s only going to make us better. His personality fits the room so I don’t think we’ll lose a step with that one. With the knowledge that he has coming from the NFL, having Pro Bowl players and All-Pro players. I’m pretty sure those older guys are going to take in everything that he’s coaching.”
The Huskers will have their next media availability on Friday.
