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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 1990)
NU freshmen promoted to varsity workouts By Todd Cooper Staff Reporter Learning the system is the top priority of two Nebraska freshmen after being thrust into varsity football action during fall drills. Rob Zatechka, a 6-foot-6, 288 pound offensive lineman, and Johnnie Mitchcl, a 6-5, 250-pound tight end, have been separated from their junior varsity teammates and are working out with the varsity. Seven other newcomers -- Derek Brown, Corey Dixon, Calvin Jones, Brcnded Stai, Zach Wiegcrt, Vince Hawkins and Kenny Wilhite -- also were promoted to the varsity. With injuries and illness hitting the offensive line hard in the first few days of workouts, Zatechka quickly was moved up. “It’s really complicated with all the line calls, you constantly have to think on the move,’’ Zatechka said. “It can gel pretty stressful.” I was a little surprised to be working out w ith the varsity so early. I guess I mainly expected to get knocked around a little bit on varsity, sooner or later. It’s just common knowledge that at Nebraska, linemen start at the bottom and work up.” way up.” Considering where he is, though, the transition has not been that much of an eye-opening experience. “The e\oectation (of playing for Nebraska) alone does a pretty good job of preparing you,” he said. “Like everybody says, this is big-lime, so I knew it would be tough.” He said he came prepared with a “pretty tough preseason condition ing,” routine. It paid off as he set a performance index record for a line man his size during preseason testing. “Physically, practices haven’t been loo bad,” he said. “I think physically I’m ready to play. But mentally it might take another year or two.” Mitchell agreed. “I’m still learning most of the plays,” he said' ‘Once I feel comfort able, I feel I’ll play better. “I think what I have to do is just concentrate on learning the system. After that my ability will just take over.” To check out just how much abil ity he has, Husker coaches tried him at wingback after junior Nate Turner went down for six to eight weeks with a broken collarbone. After one day there, he was moved back to tight end. “I’m glad they gave me a look at wingback,” he said. “But I just needed to learn the system at tight end. “Once I get the system down, I’d like to play both. I’d love to play wingback. The main thing was I didn’t know what I was doing out there.” With the help of receivers coach Ron Brown, Mitchell said he is get ting the plays down at light end. “Coach Brown is one of the great cst coaches around,” he said. “If you iiiukc a wrong step or somemmg, nc s right there on you. He really cares about his athletes ... you don’t want to let him down.” Milking the adjustment from high school to college ball hasn’t been too bad, Mitchell said. “The difference is the speed and size level,” he said. “You can’t just get out and flat-out beat someone. At most, you just have a step (in pass routes). Tn high school, I was the man. When the game was on the line, the coach pul the ball in my hands and I usually delivered.” He would I ike to deliver right away in college ball, he said. “I hope I’m not redshirted,” he said. “I’d like to help out this year, but I guess it’ll just depend on how well I pick things up.” Zatechka, on the other hand, thinks he’ll be redshirted to allow him time to grasp the system. “Right now, 1 really have no long term goals,” he said. “I think I’ll probably be redshirted this year. That’s usually how all the other linemen develop.” I'm Paul Kadavy, President & CEO of Nonvest Bank in Lincoln. 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