Zach Frazier

Last updated
Zach Frazier
West Virginia Mountaineers–No. 54
Position Center
ClassJunior
Major Sport Management
Personal information
Born:August 29, 2001
Fairmont, West Virginia, U.S.
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight310 lb (141 kg)
Career history
College West Virginia (2020–2023)
Bowl games
High school Fairmont Senior (Fairmont)
Career highlights and awards

Zach Frazier is an American football center. He played college football at West Virginia.

Contents

Early life and high school

Frazier was born in Fairmont, West Virginia. [1] He is related to several state champion wrestlers through his mother's side of the family while his father played football for the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons. [2] In addition to playing sports, Frazier excelled academically: he declared on his first day of kindergarten that he would win an award for having perfect grades throughout elementary school, accomplished that goal, and had a 4.5 grade-point average (GPA) with one semester left in high school. [2]

Frazier attended Fairmont Senior High School where he played football and was a wrestler; in football, he played two-ways and was thrice selected first-team All-Class AA while in wrestling, he won four consecutive heavyweight state championships. [3] He was named the 2019–20 Times West Virginian wrestler of the year after being the first in school history to win four wrestling championships and finished his high school career with a 159–2 record, the highest winning percentage in Marion County history. [4] He helped his school's football team reach the class championship three times in four years, winning it once it 2018. [5] He had 54 starts in his football career which set a team record, and was named as a senior the Stydahar Award winner as the best lineman in the state. [6] He committed to play college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, being ranked the second-best recruit in the state. [2] [7]

College career

After an injury to Chase Behrndt, Frazier became West Virginia's starter at center in the first game of his true freshman season in 2020, being the first person to do so at the school in over 40 years. [8] He then shifted to guard when Behrndt returned and ultimately started all 10 games in the 2020 season. [8] He did not allow a sack in nine games and was named first-team Freshman All-American as well as honorable mention All-Big 12. [9] [10] Off the field, he was named to the Big 12 Academic All-Rookie team. [10]

Frazier became West Virginia's starting center in 2021 and started every game at the position, appearing on every offensive snap in the season. [11] He was the team leader with 60 knockdown blocks and allowed just two sacks while being graded at 90% or higher in all but two games. [11] He was second-team All-Big 12, second-team All-American and first-team Academic All-Big 12. [10] [12] [13] He was also their nominee for Big 12 Athlete of the Year. [14] In 2022, Frazier started all 12 games, allowed only one sack, and was chosen first-team all-conference as he helped the team average 171.5 rushing yards per game while being their leader with 51 knockdown blocks. [15] [16] He also repeated as a first-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree. [14]

Frazier entered the 2023 season as a preseason first-team All-American and member of the Lombardi Award watch list. [17] Midseason, he was selected as one of 16 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy. [18] He has been considered a potential 2024 NFL Draft selection. [19]

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References

  1. ↑ "Zach Frazier". ESPN.
  2. 1 2 3 Taylor, G. Allan (December 23, 2019). "Homemade: Inside the garage gym West Virginia signee Zach Frazier created to go after his goals" . The Athletic .
  3. ↑ Hunter, Greg (August 25, 2023). "Zach Frazier grows into his leadership role". West Virginia's News.
  4. ↑ Smith, Joe (April 11, 2020). "One Last Time" . Times West Virginian .
  5. ↑ Brocato, Joe (November 11, 2020). "True freshman and former Polar Bear Zach Frazier a perfect fit on WVU's offensive front". West Virginia MetroNews .
  6. ↑ Heltzel, Bradley (December 23, 2019). "Prep football: Fairmont Senior's Zach Frazier wins Stydahar Award". Charleston Gazette-Mail .
  7. ↑ Decker, Ryan (July 17, 2023). "A look at the to-do list for All-American center Zach Frazier". WBOY-TV.
  8. 1 2 Pritt, Ryan (April 20, 2021). "WVU football: Zach Frazier hopes to make most of opportunity at center". The Herald-Dispatch .
  9. ↑ Kinder, Kevin (August 23, 2021). "Zach Frazier learned much during his first season at WVU". The Exponent Telegram .
  10. 1 2 3 "Zach Frazier". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  11. 1 2 "Zach Frazier named second-team All-American". West Virginia's News. December 9, 2021.
  12. ↑ Hunter, Greg (July 5, 2023). "Zach Frazier earns Big 12 preseason honors". West Virginia's News.
  13. ↑ Montoro, Mike (December 9, 2021). "WVU's Zach Frazier named Walter Camp All-American". WBOY-TV.
  14. 1 2 "Zach Frazier (2023)". National Football Foundation.
  15. ↑ Hall, Christopher (July 5, 2023). "Zach Frazier Selected Preseason All-Big 12". Sports Illustrated .
  16. ↑ "Zach Frazier named preseason All-America First Team". West Virginia's News. May 18, 2023.
  17. ↑ Hertzel, Bob (August 16, 2023). "Fairmont's Zach Frazier earns two pre-season accolades" . Times West Virginian .
  18. ↑ Hall, Christopher (October 25, 2023). "Frazier Named William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist". Sports Illustrated .
  19. ↑ Callihan, Schuyler (July 13, 2023). "NFL OL Coaches Will Be 'Pounding the Table for Zach Frazier' in the 2024 Draft". Sports Illustrated .
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