Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone's promising spring came to a sudden halt late last week when he suffered a serious knee injury.Ìý
Husker coach Scott Frost said Wednesday that Fidone suffered a noncontact 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 could be back by midseason and play in some games down the stretch, Frost added.
"I will be back," Fidone tweeted Wednesday. "Bigger, faster and stronger! I can promise you that! Every setback is set to have a major comeback!"
The injury apparently happened Friday during NU's 12th of 15 spring practices.Ìý
"Just an unfortunate play, just kind of a nothing play and he went down," Frost said. "We feel terrible for him, but he's in a good place and he's going to work to get back."Â
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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.Ìý
He arrived on campus in January and took part in Nebraska's winter conditioning program as a midyear enrollee. Most recently, the freshman tight end had been coming on strong late in spring practices, according to his position coach, Sean Beckton.Ìý
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."Â
Added Frost on Wednesday, "Thomas is a super-talented guy. Gosh, he cares as much as anybody out there. Put those two things together and it's going to lead to good places. ... I think he was kind of swimming for a while, trying to figure everything out. His last two practices were really good practices, so it's disappointing for him, but he'll come back stronger."Â
Junior Austin Allen, who pairs with Travis Vokolek at the front of the tight end room, had similarly positive things to say about Fidone.Ìý
"He’s been great. He’s been easy to work with, asking a lot of questions. A lot of times you see freshmen, it’s like they’ve been dropped in the ocean — they’re just treading water, trying to breathe," Allen said. "He took that responsibility, and he’s running with it. He’s taken every opportunity to learn. I think that’s where he’s stepped away from other freshmen, is he took every opportunity to learn.
"I was getting texts at 10:30 every night for two weeks straight, just from him. A lot of times I just wanted to say ‘Thomas, just go to bed.'"Â
Frost said at the outset of spring ball that he knew this was perhaps the most pertinent risk of holding Nebraska's 15 practices later than normal this year.Ìý
I will be back. Bigger, faster and stronger! I can promise you that! Every setback is set to have a major comeback! GBR
— Thomas Fidone II ²ⴠ(@ThomasFidone)
"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."Â
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 midyear enrollee. Freshman A.J. Rollins arrives this summer.Ìý
Frost said he thinks Fidone is the only player on the roster currently who's not projected to be ready by the beginning of preseason camp in late July at the latest. Wide receiver Alante Brown (arm) and running back Markese Stepp (left foot) are among those who could be out until the summer.Ìý
A look at the 2021 Nebraska football schedule
Week 0: at Illinois
When: Aug. 28, NoonÂ
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 1: vs. Fordham
When: Sept. 4, 11 a.m.Ìý
Where: Memorial Stadium
Fordham in 2020: 2-1 (shortened by COVID-19)
Last time the Huskers and Rams met: No previous matchups
Week 2: vs. Buffalo
When: Sept. 11, 2:30 p.m.Ìý
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
When: Sept. 18, 11 a.m.Ìý
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: at Michigan State
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
When: Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m.Ìý
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: Michigan
When: Oct. 9Â
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
When: Oct. 16Â
Where: Minneapolis
Minnesota in 2020: 3-4Ìý
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
When: Oct. 30Â
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
When: Nov. 6Â
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 12: at Wisconsin
When: Nov. 20Â
Where: Madison, WisconsinÂ
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
When: Nov. 26, 12:30 p.m.Ìý
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