EVAN BLAND Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska players and coaches lit up Tuesday at the mention of a name many fans are just now learning how to pronounce.
Kade Pietrzak (pet-shock).
The freshman defensive lineman enjoyed a coming-out party Saturday night with the first four tackles of his career across 24 defensive snaps. That included a 3-yard stop for loss of an Akron running back for a first-quarter safety.
Pietrzak chatted briefly late Saturday with reporters about his college transition that only began this summer. Much of his support system said they saw potential in the No. 1 recruit from North Dakota right away.
Senior offensive guard Rocco Spindler, who played in the national title game with Notre Dame last January, recalled rolling his eyes a bit in NU training camp at lining up opposite a teenager. That attitude changed quickly.
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"I was like 'Pssh, wow,'" Spindler said. "I was like, 'Alright, this guy can play.' Now he's taken the next step on each practice, each rep that he gets. And he's building off it. I'm proud to see that. He's getting more opportunities, too."
Senior defensive lineman Elijah Jeudy called the Pietrzak safety one of the highlights of his season. The frosh burst through two blockers on the left side of the offensive line and wrapped up the ball carrier in a display of explosion and strength.
After a week of Jeudy encouraging position coach Terry Bradden to unleash the kid, it happened.
"I think that's a guy -- especially long after I'm gone -- he's going to be a great factor for this team," Jeudy said.
Defensive coordinator John Butler said he already regrets not playing the West Fargo product more in the opener in Kansas City. Pietrzak remains listed as the No. 3 defensive end behind Cameron Lenhardt and Williams Nwaneri on the team depth chart but functionally lined up more as a defensive tackle Saturday night.
Those spots are "very, very similar" in three-down fronts, Butler said, which was what NU showed for much of the game.
"We put Pietrzak at a different position," Butler said. "He went out there and made plays."
Pietrzak forced the issue with qualities that have had the 6-foot-5, 265-pounder winning over teammates and coaches during practice. He executes plays. He's among the most competitive Huskers. He's tough and cares about his teammates.
That he's a younger player getting looks ahead of older ones makes no difference, Butler said. Pietrzak has "great DNA" for a football player. The former longtime NFL assistant said the best professional D-linemen he knew had something "a little off" about them - in a good way - embracing football's most physical position.
Pietrzak -- a former national recruit who turned down Oklahoma and Wisconsin among others -- has that look.
"When he played last weekend he played to a level that we expect him to play and continue to get better," Butler said. "I think he's going to help us. I think he'll be a steady member of that front moving forward."
Senior linebacker Marques Watson-Trent said Pietrzak's safety set the tone for the defense, which eventually finished its first shutout since 2009. That's process playing out.
"Man, I love him," Watson-Trent said. "He plays football the right way. He's a great body. He's young. And he's just now learning different things. He's just a fun player to watch. He gets after it. He's dominant. He's going to be really good for the next couple years for us."
Photos: Akron vs. Nebraska football at Memorial Stadium, Sept. 6, 2025 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
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