The Army football family has lost another one of its brothers.
Chase Prasnicki, a former quarterback and safety, was killed in Afghanistan while on patrol Wednesday.
The Roanoake Times reported the cause of Prasnicki’s death was an improvised explosive device. Prasnicki, a 1st Lt. with the 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, was stationed in Bamberg, Germany and deployed to Afghanistan Sunday.
Prasnicki, a 2010 West Point graduate, was beloved by his teammates for the heart and spirit that he brought on and off the field.
I remember Prasnicki, 24, who was nicknamed “Nitro”, laying a big hit on running back Pat Mealy during the 2009 spring game. Prasnicki had just moved to safety.
“I love the change,” Prasnicki told me after flying all over the field during the scrimmage. “I always wanted to play defense. I never got the chance in high school. I’m glad my senior year in college that I finally get to.”
Prasnicki, recruited as a quarterback by Bobby Ross out of Rockbridge High School in Lexington, Va., was the ultimate team player. Prasnicki played in one game – rushing for 17 yards on one carry his freshman year, prior to his senior season. He was the primary backup to three-year starter Donovan Travis, his senior season and made 10 tackles in five games. Prasnicki, who also played special teams, was pressed into action when Travis was injured at North Texas and came up big with seven tackles in a 17-13 win.
Prasnicki’s teammates posted on his Facebook page Thursday morning.
“Rest in Peace brother. You were and still are an inspiration to us all,” Tony Dace wrote.
“Proud to call you a brother and compete with you…Watch over us. R.I.P,” Jeremy Trimble posted.
Prasnicki is the third Army football player to pass away in last two months.
Cornerback Mario Hill, a 2010 West Point graduate, passed away in an automobile accident in May. Ryan Morgan, a running back who was returning to West Point for his freshman season, died in motorcycle accident earlier this month.
