Neal Brown details what Zach Frazier will bring to NFL teams
Former West Virginia center Zach Frazier figures to be one of the most highly coveted offensive lineman prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. His stock has steadily risen in the past few weeks, and he’s even climbed into the first round of the latest mock draft by Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network.
On Thursday’s version of Andy Staples On3, WVU head coach Neal Brown discussed what Frazier will bring to NFL teams in the future.
“He’s gonna set the standard with how he works. He’s extremely intelligent. From a football standpoint, for us, he was a quarterback for our offensive line. He made all our identification, in both the run game and the pass game. He has a deep understanding of making sure we get our five on their five,” Brown said.
Frazier became WVU’s starting center in 2021 and started every game that season for the Mountaineers. He finished with a team-high 60 knockdown blocks, only surrendering two sacks. Frazier also graded out at 90 percent or better in 10 of 12 games.
“And that sounds a lot easier than it is. As you know. Yeah, and he’s really strong. He plays with great leverage. He’s not as tall maybe as your prototypical (center), but he’s got long arms. He’s got big hands and strong hands. His wrestling background. He’s four-time state champion in wrestling,” Brown said.
Frazier wrestled for Fairmont Senior High (Fairmont West Virginia), where he was a four-time state champion in the heavyweight division from 2017-2020.
“His whole side on his mom’s side are all really successful wrestlers. And you see that in his game. You see him playing with leverage and hand strength. I really believe this, okay. I think Zach will, if he stays healthy, which he has done. Except with one exception. He only missed one game due to injury and that was a bowl game,” Brown continued.
The Mountaineers head man was not shy about letting everyone know that he thinks Frazier will have a very long, very successful career in the National Football League.
“So, he played a lot of consecutive games for us. I really believe he’ll be a 10-plus year starter in the NFL. He’ll be an All-Pro. I really believe that. I’ve coached a lot of really good players. He’s the, I’m not saying he’s the most talented but he’s the best football player that I’ve had the opportunity to coach,” the WVU head coach said of his star.
A former two-time All-American, Frazier helped to anchor an offensive line unit that cleared the way for 228 rushing yards per game. West Virginia also ranked No. 2 in the country in sacks allowed with .75 sacks per game. He finished the season with 57 knockdown blocks and had to miss the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. For his highly decorated career at WVU, Frazier finished with 174 knockdowns over the last three years.