Five Nebraska football players who need a big fall camp

Nebraska football opens fall camp in less than 10 days.

It’s a period brimming with excitement as Big Ten Media Days take place next week and the 2023 season approaches. Some players enter the first fall camp under head coach Matt Rhule in the drivers seat.

Others have something to prove.

Here are five Huskers that need to establish themselves in the month of practices leading up to the season opener against Minnesota…

Note: Players are organized in alphabetical order.

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Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, WR

Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda has a unique journey to say the least.

He appeared to be a breakout star during his first game as a Husker. The 6-foot, 185-pound wideout showed his talent as a deep threat in Nebraska’s Irish showdown with Northwestern. Garcia-Castaneda caught four passes for 120 yards and a touchdown including a 58-yard snag and a 32-yard touchdown catch.

Then it seemed like he fell off the face of the Earth.

Throughout the remainder of the season, the Mission Viejo, California, native had a single catch against Oklahoma. Garcia-Castaneda was in the transfer portal by October 11. Yet, the change in staff brought a change in heart and he reversed course to rejoin the Huskers in January.

Nebraska needs someone to stretch the field and strong candidates for the third wide receiver role. Garcia-Castaneda could be one of those along while competing with Zavier Betts and a host of talented freshmen. He didn’t return for a fifth season to ride the pine, so Garcia-Castaneda needs to make a strong camp impression and secure playing time.

Nick Henrich, LB

Linebacker Nick Henrich was cleared for practice near the beginning of July. That’s great news for the 2022 captain and Nebraska’s second-leading tackler (99) from 2021.

Now the work begins. Injuries were a theme for Henrich’s previous campaign. He made a 14th consecutive start to open the season against Northwestern but broke his hand and missed the next two games. Henrich returned for the next four contests before a knee injury at Purdue ended his season with 37 tackles including three for a loss.

A defensive coordinator later, the Burke product is healthy again. However it seems this new system will prioritize speed and that’s a serious question mark for Henrich considering the somewhat unknown status of his knee. Plus, offseason chatter is setting up a push from junior John Bullock who recently went on scholarship.

Henrich will need to demonstrate he can return to 2021 levels of production in Tony White’s 3-3-5.

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Teddy Prochazka, OL

For the second time in as many years, offensive tackle Teddy Prochazka is entering fall camp after suffering a season-ending injury.

The 6-foot-10, 320-pounder has the measurables and the ability but has played just eight games over the course of two seasons. Prochazka needs to emerge from fall camp fully healthy at a minimum. That’s something he achieved in 2022 before a shoulder injury robbed him of the final nine games of the year.

Locking down the left-tackle role would be a much-needed bonus.

Prochazka could literally be one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle along the offensive front. Fully realizing the talent that made him one of the top prospects in the country could give the Pipeline a true anchor. Additionally, it would allow Donovan Raiola and the coaching staff to decide where to place Turner Corcoran and others.

Thomas Fidone, TE

Believe it or not, this will be Thomas Fidone’s first fall camp as a full-participant since he arrived in Lincoln.

The former four-star tight end and No. 67 recruit in the 2020 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking suffered two serious knee injuries in the last two seasons. Fidone appeared in one game during 2021 and was held out for 2022 as well for precautionary reasons near the end of his rehab.

Like Prochazka, exiting fall camp without any further hiccups is key. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Council Bluffs, Iowa, native next needs to reach his potential.

Another vertical threat in the middle of the field would make for a key option to help quarterback Jeff Sims and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield.

Ty Robinson, DL

It’s time for Ty Robinson to become the dude.

Nebraska missed Robinson during the spring as the junior dealt with injury. He’ll be ready to go this fall and reestablishing his role will be a top objective. At 6-foot-6 and 310-pounds, Robinson is a vital body in a room that is relatively thin on the interior.

A product of Higley High School in Gilbert, Arizona, Robinson has 68 tackles over the course of his tenure in Lincoln. He has produced identical numbers over the last two seasons (4.0 tackles for a loss and 2.0 sacks) with the exception of a reduction of three tackles (27-24) from 2021-2022.

Robinson is the most experienced interior defensive lineman in his room and needs to carve out a career year to help Nebraska against Big Ten offensive lines.

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