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NCAAF Nebraska senior Teddy Prochazka delayed knee surgery to stay involved with the team in his final season. Joe Robbins / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images LINCOLN, Neb. — Dana Holgorsen joined the Nebraska football team amid a losing streak that threatened to sink its season last year. He was tasked with learning the personnel and designing an offensive plan for the Huskers as a lineup of Big Ten heavyweights loomed. So excuse him for failing to meet Teddy Prochazka, the 6-foot-10 guy in sweats who seemed to never leave the building. Advertisement “I was like, ‘Who’s this big dude? ’” Holgorsen said. “He was always positive, always talking to people, coaching the young guys. So you just treat him like a young coach. ” Before their introduction, Prochazka made a strong impression. When the 13-year Big 12 head coach learned more about his offensive tackle after Holgorsen’s frantic first month, he thought even more highly of Prochazka. His level of investment in the program was rare for a coach, let alone a 22-year-old athlete. Even when rehabbing, Prochazka spent long hours in film sessions and offensive line meetings. And when the senior from Omaha on Oct. 25 suffered the fifth major injury of his collegiate career — a third ACL tear — his response to the latest setback elevated Prochazka in the eyes of his coaches and teammates to almost legendary status. He delayed knee surgery until January to stay involved daily. Prochazka traveled with the Huskers to UCLA and Penn State and plans to do the same for the bowl game. On Friday, he’ll walk from the tunnel at Memorial Stadium for Senior Day before the Huskers kick off against Iowa. “If there’s purple hearts for football, he should get one, ” senior guard Henry Lutovsky said. The injury this year for Prochazka ended his playing career. It came after five starts and seven appearances in 2025 at right tackle. The same right knee gave out last year in the opening hours of preseason camp, derailing his fourth season with the Huskers. Prochazka also twice suffered shoulder injuries that required surgery. In five years, the four-star recruit started just 16 games. Four of his five seasons in college football ended because of injury. Still, he never left. And even as his playing career concludes, he plans to stick around. “It’s love of the game, ” Holgorsen said. “But it’s the love of the place, too. ” Advertisement Prochazka earned his undergraduate degree in 2024 and received a Master of Applied Science in August. In the spring, Prochazka plans to start work with the Huskers in a role assisting director of player development Gus Felder. He wants to connect with players and show them early in their careers what he learned, often during a rehab period, about the chance to impact the community outside of football. “Senior year of high school Teddy would look at this Teddy, ” he said, “and say, ‘Wow, you’ve come a long way. ’ He has visited elementary schools and volunteered at the Food Bank of Lincoln, the Center for People and the Boys and Girls Club. “Just going out and seeing the difference that you can have as a student-athlete really shaped the way I viewed things, ” Prochazka said. The Huskers equally adore him. “Teddy’s a special human, ” quarterback Dylan Raiola said. “He’s the epitome of a Husker football player. He’s been through everything — injuries, a new coaching staff. And just to see him stick through it and come out the other side strong… he’s an elite football player. But at the same time, he’s an even better person. That knack to leave a positive impact dates to before Prochazka’s days in college. During the 2021 recruiting cycle, COVID-19 restrictions temporarily eliminated recruiting visits. A group of the committed players who lived within a manageable drive of Lincoln met near campus for their own “unofficial” official visits, said Heinrich Haarberg, who signed alongside Prochazka. Prochazka was a ringleader. The future teammates convened at Prochazka’s home to create the bonding moments otherwise missed. Prochazka graduated one semester early from Elkhorn South in December 2020 and moved to Lincoln. He met Makenna Frenzen in those first weeks. She was one grade above him in school. Quickly, they became a couple. Advertisement Last December, Teddy’s mother, Katie Prochazka, died after an extended illness. “Looking back on that time, I felt like I could have leaned on others more, ” he said. “I shut myself out a little bit. And that’s not my personality. ” He got through it by turning to his faith, deepened through relationships with a group of spiritual teammates. Prochazka grew closer with his siblings in the aftermath of his mother’s death, he said, and he drew strength from his father, Jeff, and stepmother, Jen. As he recovered from knee surgery in the aftermath of his 2024 injury, Prochazka refused to lower his expectations. He would not accept a minimized role as a fifth-year senior unless he gave maximum effort to win a starting job. The rehab was arduous. It ate up most of a full year. He leaned on Makenna during that time. In April, they went to dinner to celebrate her birthday. He proposed. The wedding is set for January 2027. Prochazka surprised many observers and won the job at right tackle in camp this year. Then last month against Northwestern, when he retreated early in the second quarter and felt a pop in that right kneem Prochazka recognized the feeling. “Oh my gosh, ” he said to himself, “don’t hit Dylan. ” Prochazka fell into Raiola, who was sacked on the play. Nebraska starting RT Teddy Prochazka left the Northwestern game injured. It was shared that the extent of the injury is unknown, but initial thoughts suggest it could be an extended time. The Elkhorn local returned to play this year after missing all of '24 due to an injury. pic. twitter. com/loy C959CRk — randysilvertv (@randysilvertv) October 26, 2025 Prochazka got up slowly. He knew it was over as he walked to the sideline with little assistance. At halftime, he saw Rhule. Prochazka was upset. “I just put my arm around him, ” Rhule said in the Oct. 30 episode of his podcast. Advertisement Rhule told the big lineman that he was sorry. “I know, I know, ” said the coach, trying to comfort Prochazka, who then repeated a line he had heard from Rhule. “What’s next? ” The moment spoke to Rhule more than Prochazka realized. In fact, it helped Rhule cement his decision to double down on the Huskers and sign a two-year contract extension as Penn State lurked. “How do you leave that? ” he said. In Prochazka’s second start four years ago as a true freshman, he went toe to toe against Michigan All-American Aidan Hutchinson — and performed well — before his left ACL ruptured in a 32-29 Nebraska loss. “You start with that success, ” Haarberg said, “and then it’s ripped from you. You build it back up, and it’s ripped down again. ” Haarberg marvels at Prochazka’s perseverance. Prochazka shrugs at the idea. The injuries gave him a path to find his purpose. “That’s where I felt I thrived, ” he said, “being able to help others any way I can. ” He said he expects primarily to feel gratitude on Friday. “This place has given so much to me, ” Prochazka said, “and I feel like I still have a lot more to give to this place. ” Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Mitch Sherman is a staff writer for The Athletic covering Nebraska football. He previously covered college sports for ESPN. com after working 13 years for the Omaha World-Herald. Mitch is an Omaha native and lifelong Nebraskan. Follow Mitch on Twitter @mitchsherman