OMAHA, Neb. — Teddy Prochazka acted first. He didn’t plan it that way. He just didn’t want to play games or collect scholarship offers to attract attention.
“When I realized Nebraska was my best choice,” Prochazka said, “why wait?”
One year and one week after his pledge as the initial member of the Huskers’ 2021 recruiting class, Prochazka remains a headliner — its second-highest-rated member, according to the 247Sports Composite, and the anchor among nine players from Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota in the 20-person group.
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Prochazka, a 6-foot-9, 295-pound offensive tackle at Elkhorn South, stays in touch with his future Nebraska classmates via Snapchat instead of regular campus visits, which are prohibited this year.
He closely watches the progress of Bryce Benhart, starting at right tackle for Nebraska as a redshirt freshman, and communicates often with Turner Corcoran, the backup left tackle as a true freshman who made his collegiate debut last month against Ohio State.
More pressing, Prochazka’s got work to complete this fall. His Storm play Friday night in the Nebraska Class A quarterfinals against 8-0 Lincoln Southeast. Elkhorn South is 8-1, its only loss by three points to Millard South on Sept 4. The winner Friday is in line to face Kearney or unbeaten No. 1-seeded Bellevue West, the reigning Class A champion loaded with Power 5 skill players.
This is potentially unprecedented ground for Prochazka and Elkhorn South, a third-year Class A program that lost the past two seasons in the postseason Round of Eight. For Prochazka, the opportunity is here to help take his high school farther than it has advanced at this level.
It’s a fitting finish for his senior class, which includes the sons of two former key members of the offensive line at Nebraska. “They’re a group that is very passionate about football and cares about each other,” Elkhorn South coach Guy Rosenberg said
Prochazka’s work ethic is part of what attracted the Huskers to him. That and, well, his huge frame.
“We’re in the Big Ten,” Nebraska offensive line coach Greg Austin said Wednesday, remarking on the likes of young lineman Benhart, 6-9 and 330 pounds, and the 6-6, 300-pound Corcoran. “We’ve got to get big dudes.”
Scott Frost offered a scholarship to Prochazka before the Huskers faced Minnesota in October 2018. It was the day of Frost’s first win as coach in Lincoln. And just as memorable for Prochazka, it came before he received offers from Michigan, Arizona State, Northwestern and others.
He committed 53 weeks later, delivering the news to Nebraska coaches before the prime-time kickoff against Ohio State.
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Watching up close during that 48-7 Nebraska loss, Prochazka didn’t enjoy the night. Ohio State bullied the Huskers. And though Nebraska trimmed just six points this season from its 2019 deficit against the Buckeyes, he said he saw a change.
“The offensive line made huge steps up,” Prochazka said. “Guys were delivering hits that we didn’t see last year. They were mean and moving guys against their will. That’s what I like to see. Coach Austin talks about how he’s going to make them machines. That’s where I want to be.”
Prochazka’s goal at Nebraska? To win a starting job.
Offensive lineman Henry Lutovsky, 6-6 and 310 pounds, followed Prochazka in committing to Nebraska, then linebacker Randolph Kpai and 6-8, 330-pound offensive lineman Branson Yager.
The three linemen created their own chat. They talk about subjects that Austin would like — toughness, strength, leadership. Prochazka teamed with quarterback Heinrich Haarberg of Kearney Catholic, and Iowans Lutovsky and Seth Malcom, a linebacker, to lure tight end Thomas Fidone of Council Bluffs Lewis Central.
Fidone committed in August as the top-ranked player in the class, 94th nationally by the 247Sports Composite and the top prospect in Iowa.
“He’s a real dynamic player,” said Prochazka, ranked 230th nationally and as the 19th-best offensive tackle. “Thomas is going to bring a lot to this class.”
Defensive back Koby Bretz of Omaha Westside and tight end AJ Rollins of Omaha Creighton Prep committed within a week of Fidone. Tight end James Carnie of Norris High School joined the group last month. Recent commits Mikai Gbayor, a linebacker from New Jersey, and California defensive end Jailen Weaver brought the count to 20. The Huskers remain in pursuit of at least two defensive linemen.
After his junior season, Prochazka expected to return to the sideline at Memorial Stadium this year and help with efforts to complete his class.
There’s only one way now that he’ll get back inside the stadium in 2020. The Class A championship is scheduled for Nov. 23.
Hours before the Storm’s opener this year against neighboring school Millard West, a senior captain and two-way starter for Elkhorn South learned that he’d have to miss the opener. A student who sat near him in class tested positive for COVID-19.
Rosenberg gave his players a few minutes to process the news, then told them to rally. “As the year passes by,” the coach said, “this can be your excuse or it can be your story.”
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The Storm beat Millard West for the first time ever that night, avenging a playoff loss from last year. Prochazka was instrumental, Rosenberg said, in developing the resolve that pushed his teammates through difficult moments.
“He takes pride in doing what’s best for the team,” Rosenberg said. “He’s the same guy every day. Every single day, he’s relentless in his commitment to get better.
“If Prochazka matches against a defender who’s 9 inches shorter than him or 75 pounds lighter, it’s about more than the opponent for him,” Rosenberg said. “He’s not settling for anything less than his best effort.”
Said Prochazka: “I can’t get lazy and develop bad habits now.”
Elkhorn South center Isaac Zatechka, offered by Montana State and several Division II programs, first played with Prochazka in middle school. They elevated expectations at the school early in their careers.
“He’s always been a leader,” Zatechka said of Prochazka.
Zatechka’s dad, Jon Zatechka, started at guard for Nebraska in 1996 and ‘97 and his uncle, Rob Zatechka, started at tackle in 1993 and ‘94.
The father of Elkhorn South linebacker Sam Hoskinson, Matt Hoskinson, was the first interior lineman off the bench at Nebraska for Milt Tenopir in 1997. Elliott Brown, the Storm’s quarterback last season who walked on as a running back for the Huskers this fall, is the son of Lance Brown, Nebraska’s third-leading receiver in 1997.
Lance Brown coached Prochazka in youth football. Jon Zatechka gave him a few tips on technique around the time Isaac and Teddy moved together to the varsity squad at the start of their sophomore seasons.
All of the ex-Huskers players offered a similar message to Prochazka a few years ago.
“One of these days you’re going to have to make a decision,” Prochazka said they told him. “Just know where home is.”
Prochazka found it early.
(Photo: Mitch Sherman / The Athletic)