Zach Frazier has become a household name for West Virginia fans since he joined the program in the fall of 2020.
Frazier, a Fairmont, native, is a name that people within the state have been hearing since 2017 when he was a freshman at Fairmont Senior High School. That year, Frazier won his first of what would be four straight state championships in wrestling. To go along with that, Frazier also helped Fairmont Senior bring home a state championship in football in 2018.
In June of 2019, Frazier announced his commitment to WVU.
During his freshman season at WVU, Frazier became the first true freshman to start on a Mountaineer offensive line in 40 years. Frazier started at left guard in nine games that year, not allowing a sack in any of them, thus earning himself a spot on ESPN’s True Freshman All-American list.
The following offseason, Frazier made a position change, moving from left guard to center, where has since solidified himself as one of the best at his position in the country.
“I feel like in every part of my game, I’m always working on something to get better,” Frazier said.”
In his sophomore year, his first season playing center, Frazier managed to improve upon his stellar freshman year. Frazier started in 13 games that season, allowing only three sacks all season, and registering 10 without allowing a sack. Frazier earned himself second team All-America honors that year as well as second team All-Big 12 honors.
In his junior season, Frazier improved once more, allowing just one sack all season. Frazier started at center for all 12 games that season. His play that season earned him AP second team All-Big 12 honors, as well as first team honors from the coaches poll.
“I’m just doing the same thing I always do,” Frazier said of earning possible accolades. “Just focusing on my weaknesses and what I can improve on and really I don’t try to think about that too much. I just try to make myself the best I can be.”
This year, Frazier enters the season as one of the most experienced members of West Virginia’s offensive line. In the 35 games Frazier has appeared in, he has started in 34 of them, registering a start at center in 25 the previous 25. Expectations for Frazier this year are high as he made appearances on the Preseason All-Big 12 First Team, but also on some Preseason All-American lists.
With this being Frazier’s senior year, he has been thrust into a leadership role not only on the offensive line, but on WVU as a whole. Frazier said the Big 12 Preseason Poll serves as motivation and he looks to prove people wrong.
“When you get picked last, that’s pretty much like a slap in the face. But it’s good too because it fires you up,” Frazier said. “It’s definitely good motivation and we’re looking forward to trying to prove everyone wrong.”
