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Husker TE Fidone out with knee injury; midseason return is best-case scenario, Frost says

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Nebraska football practice, 4.17

Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone catches a pass during a football practice Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Parker Gabriel

Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone’s promising spring came to a sudden halt late last week when he suffered a serious knee injury. 

Husker coach Scott Frost said Wednesday that Fidone suffered a non-contact knee injury and is scheduled to have surgery Thursday. Frost said Fidone will not be ready when fall camp opens in late summer.

Best-case scenario, Fidone will be back by midseason, Frost added.

The injury apparently happened Friday during NU’s 12th of 15 spring practices. 

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Fidone, a Council Bluffs, Iowa, native and former Lewis Central High star, was the centerpiece of Nebraska’s 2021 recruiting class and was widely considered the best tight end prospect in the country for his class. 

He arrived on campus in January and took part in Nebraska’s winter conditioning program as a mid-year enrollee. Most recently, the freshman tight end had been coming on strong late in spring practices, according to his position coach, Sean Beckton. 

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“He wanted to step out there on Day 1 and be the best tight end on the team,” Beckton said last week. “I had to humble him early on. That’s not going to happen. We’ve got to stack practices. We’ve got to stack reps on top of each other in order for him to be great. He’s definitely moving in that direction.”

In fact, last week’s scrimmage was, “his best day, by far,” Beckton said. “So I’m really, really proud of him. We just have to continue to press him. He’s going to help this football team this year.” 

Perhaps not anymore. An aggressive return from major knee surgery still would carry well into the regular season this fall. Frost said he knew this was perhaps the most pertinent risk of holding spring ball weeks later than normal this year. 

I will be back. Bigger, faster and stronger! I can promise you that! Every setback is set to have a major comeback! GBR pic.twitter.com/qcuWl6WxFP

— Thomas Fidone II ²⁴ (@ThomasFidone) April 28, 2021

“Really the only risk you run is if you get the type of injury where somebody’s out for a while, you’re getting closer to the season,” Frost said on March 29 while listing off several positives like more time off after a long season last year, a full winter conditioning session and no spring break interrupting the middle of the spring schedule. “Those are the risks you have to run to practice hard and get better.” 

Shortly after Frost met with media Wednesday, Fidone tweeted, “I will be back. Bigger, faster and stronger! I can promise you that! Every setback is set to have a major comeback! GBR.”

Nebraska does have depth at the tight end position, highlighted by juniors Austin Allen and Travis Vokolek. After that, redshirt freshman Chris Hickman has been back with Beckton’s group this spring and freshman James Carnie is on campus as a mid-year enrollee. Freshman A.J. Rollins arrives this summer. 

A look at the 2021 Nebraska football schedule

Week 0 ➡️ Illinois

Illinois vs. Nebraska, 11.21

Nebraska’s Travis Vokolek (left) tries to pull in a pass with Illinois’ Tony Adams (6) defending on Nov. 21, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo

When: Aug. 28 

Where: Champaign, Ill.

Illinois in 2020: 2-6

Last time the Huskers and Illini played: Illinois 41, Nebraska 23 (2020)

All-time series: Nebraska leads, 11-4

Week 2 ➡️ Buffalo

MAC Championship Football

Buffalo running back Ron Cook Jr. (2) is tackled by Ball State’s Tye Evans during the second half of the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Detroit.

Carlos Osorio, Associated Press

When: Sept. 11

Where: Memorial Stadium

Buffalo in 2020: 6-1 (5-0 in MAC)

Last time the Huskers and Bulls met: No previous matchups

Week 3 ➡️ at Oklahoma

Oklahoma vs. Nebraska

Nebraska and Oklahoma last met on the gridiron in the 2010 Big 12 championship game in Texas.

Journal Star file photo

When: Sept. 18

Where: Norman, Oklahoma

Oklahoma in 2020: 9-2 (6-2 Big 12)

Last time Huskers and Sooners played: Oklahoma 23, Nebraska 20 (Dec. 5, 2010, Big 12 Championship)

All-time series: Oklahoma, 45-38-3

Week 4 ➡️ Michigan State

Michigan State vs. Nebraska, 11.17

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez runs downfield in a Nov. 30, 2018, game at Memorial Stadium.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

When: Sept. 25

Where: East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State in 2020: 2-5

The last time the Huskers and Spartans played: Nebraska 9, Michigan State 6 (Nov. 17, 2018)

All-time series: Nebraska leads, 9-2

Week 5 ➡️ Northwestern

Nebraska vs. Northwestern, 11.7

Nebraska’s Ty Robinson (99) and Garrett Nelson (right) attempt to tackle Northwestern’s Drake Anderson on Nov. 7, 2020, in Evanston, Ill.

JOHN KONSTANTARAS, POOL VIA NORTHWESTERN ATHLETICS

When: Oct. 2 

Where: Memorial Stadium

Northwestern in 2020: 7-2, Big Ten runner-up

The last time the Huskers and Wildcats met: Northwestern 21, Nebraska 13 (Nov. 7, 2020)

All-time series: Nebraska leads, 8-6

Week 6 ➡️ vs. Michigan

Nebraska vs. Michigan, 9/22

Nebraska fans greet the team as they arrive at Michigan Stadium for their game against the Wolverines on Sept. 22, 2018, in Ann Harbor, Mich.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo

When: Oct. 9 

Where: Memorial Stadium

Michigan in 2020: 2-4

The last time the Huskers and Wolverines played: Michigan 56, Nebraska 10 (Sept. 22, 2018)

All-time series: Michigan leads, 5-4

Week 7 ➡️ at Minnesota

Minnesota vs. Nebraska, 12.12

Nebraska’s Ben Stille (right) pass rushes Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan in the first quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium. 

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

When: Oct. 16 

Where: Minneapolis

Minnesota in 2020: 3-4 

The last time the Huskers and Gophers played: Minnesota 24, Nebraska 17 (Dec. 12, 2020)

All-time series: Minnesota, 34-25-2

Week 9 ➡️ Purdue

Nebraska vs. Purdue, 12.5

Nebraska wide receiver Wyatt Liewer scores a touchdown against Purdue during the second quarter Saturday in West Lafayette, Ind.

MICHAEL CONROY, The Associated Press

When: Oct. 30 

Where: Memorial Stadium

Purdue in 2020: 2-4

The last time the Huskers and Boilermakers met: Nebraska 37, Purdue 27 (Dec. 5, 2020)

All-time series: Nebraska leads, 5-4

Week 10 ➡️ Ohio State

Nebraska at Ohio St., 10.24

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) runs the ball against Ohio State last month at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Nebraska quarterback said the Huskers know they have to make individual sacrifices to make the season work amid pandemic.

JOSHUA BICKEL, POOL VIA OHIO STATE ATHLETICS

When: Nov. 6 

Where: Memorial Stadium

Ohio State in 2020: 7-1 (national runner-up)

The last time the Huskers and Buckeyes met: Ohio State 52, Nebraska 17 (Oct. 24, 2020)

All-time series: Ohio State leads, 8-1

Week 11 ➡️ Southeastern Louisiana

SE Louisiana Mississippi Football

Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Chason Virgil (9) hands the ball off to running back Devonte Williams (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019.

Thomas Graning, Associated Press

When: Nov. 13

Where: Memorial Stadium

Southeastern Louisiana in 2020: 2-2 (split-schedule concludes in April)

The last time the Huskers and Lions met: No previous matchups

Week 12 ➡️ at Wisconsin

Wisconsin vs. Nebraska, 11.16

Nebraska running back Dedrick Mills (26) carries the ball against Wisconsin’s  Matt Henningsen (92), Michael Balistreri (57) and Reggie Pearson (2) during first-half action Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

When: Nov. 20 

Where: Madison, Wisconsin 

Wisconsin in 2020: 4-3

The last time the Huskers and Badgers met: Wisconsin 37, Nebraska 21 (Nov. 16, 2019)

All-time series: Wisconsin leads, 10-4

Week 13 ➡️ Iowa

Nebraska vs. Iowa, 11.27

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez and the Husker offensive line push toward the goal line on Martinez’s 1-yard touchdown run against Iowa on Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo

When: Nov. 26

Where: Memorial Stadium

Iowa in 2020: 6-2

The last time the Huskers and Hawkeyes met: Iowa 26, Nebraska 20 (Nov. 27, 2020)

All-time series: Nebraska leads, 29-19-3

Contact the writer at pgabriel@journalstar.com or 402-473-7439. On Twitter @HuskerExtraPG.

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