MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As Zach Frazier and Akheem Mesidor prepare for their second season at West Virginia, both do so at a different position than where they made a strong initial impression in 2020.
Frazier, WVU’s expected starting center, started all 10 games for the Mountaineers as a true freshman, nine of which came at left guard.
Mesidor, also a true freshman in 2020, led West Virginia with five sacks while playing defensive end. He has since transitioned to nose tackle.
As a result of the position changes, Frazier and Mesidor have often found themselves lined up across each other in preseason camp, creating a matchup few can take their eyes off.
“They love to practice and love to compete,” head coach Neal Brown said. “They battle and they appreciate each other. That’s important. If you ask Akheem Mesidor, he knows that Zach Frazier is making him better. Zach Frazier really values the fact that Akheem Mesidor is making him better. That’s not always the case. Those two guys are really high level players.”
Frazier, a state champion on the gridiron and wrestling mat at Fairmont Senior, became the first true freshman to start on West Virginia’s offensive line in 40 years. His debut at center against Eastern Kentucky was out of necessity due to a suspension to Chase Behrndt, before becoming a fixture at left guard the remainder of the season.
The 6-foot-3, 306-pound Frazier spent the spring getting acclimated to center — a position that’s anything but easy to learn.
“His dad and mom have done a phenomenal job with keeping the kid so humble, but at the same time pushing him,” offensive line coach Matt Moore said. “His dad spent a lot of time with him with football growing up and understanding the game and big picture. He does such a good job and studies so hard at understanding where the play is going to start and who we’re going to ID.
“The communication of that is very comfortable and we can continue to get better and see the secondary now, see the safety rotation and that’s when you start getting to those 400 level classes.”
Being matched up with Mesidor, who had 6.5 tackles for loss among 32 stops a year ago, ensures Frazier has to be at the top of his game to be successful.
“That’s the great thing about going against Mesidor every day — if your hands are wrong he’s going to make you pay, or if you’re leaning, he’s going to make you pay,” Moore said. “That’s how good teams become great teams is they go against really good people.”
The 6-2, 272-pound Mesidor is expected to pair with Dante Stills to form one of the more productive defensive line duos in the Big 12 this season. Still, there’s been an adjustment period for the Ottawa, Ontario native, who will garner more attention from opposing offenses as a result of his play last year.
Mesidor has also spent the last few months adjusting to playing for new position coach Andrew Jackson.
“Mentally, he accepts any challenge,” Jackson said. “The biggest thing for him is understanding the blocks are on you a lot sooner when you’re that close to the ball. You’re more inclined to get double teamed. He’s accepted it well. It was a little bit more of a shock to him at first going through the spring, but he’s fine now and doing a great job.”
Like Brown, Jackson has kept a close watch on the Frazier-Mesidor matchup over the first two weeks of preseason camp, though he couldn’t say either player has the advantage.
“Mesidor-Frazier has been really fun to watch,” Jackson said. “I wouldn’t say one person has won that battle in practice more than two periods or practices in a row. It’s a play-to-play deal and they’re both good, young talents. The improvement in those kids is the fact that they challenge each other every day.”
The tightly contested battles in practice between Frazier and Mesidor aren’t likely to stop soon. A year ago, both were trying to prove they belonged at this level. Now Frazier assumes more responsibility playing a position that requires him to provide leadership, while Mesidor will try to find a way to increase his production and create opportunities for fellow defenders to cause disruption in the backfield.
“We’re fortunate enough to have them and even more fortunate that they’re only in their second year,” Brown said. “Their best football will continue to build in front of them.”