Zach Frazier made history throughout his storied West Virginia career, starting 46 games and 37 consecutively at center, while earning All-American honors twice and All-Big 12 Conference status on three occasions.
On Friday, Frazier became West Virginia’s highest draft pick in eight years when he was selected in the second round with the 51st overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A native of Fairmont who excelled on the gridiron and as a wrestler at Fairmont Senior High School, Frazier enjoyed a decorated four-year career with the Mountaineers, and won’t have to go far to begin his professional career.
The wait is over 🥹@zfrazier54 ✖️ @steelers pic.twitter.com/jJbfsNQLlA
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) April 27, 2024
“I just know how much offensive line means to the Pittsburgh Steelers, their long tradition of having great o-linemen and great offensive lines,” said Frazier. “It’s special. They already went to the offensive line in the first round. It’s special. I am excited.
“They’re getting a hard worker who is going to give everything he has to the organization to win football games. I couldn’t be more excited.”
“We’re extremely excited to bring Zach into the program,” said Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. “It is rare when you find a guy with that kind of pedigree and the amount of snaps he has in college. Certainly with his background in wrestling, he has been a high-achiever his whole life.”
He played extensively in his first college season, starting nine of the team’s 10 contests at left guard. Frazier went on to be named a freshman All-American by several national services.
Ahead of the 2021 season, he moved to center, where Frazier would spend the rest of his time at WVU.
Sixteen times throughout the course of his Mountaineer career Frazier was named the team’s offensive lineman of the week and he allowed one sack in a West Virginia uniform.
Getting the call from Coach T 😎 @zfrazier54 pic.twitter.com/DGT7aLSlpx
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 27, 2024
Frazier’s career ended one game earlier than it otherwise could have when he suffered a fractured fibula in the regular season finale at Baylor, forcing him to miss the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against North Carolina. He recovered quick enough to participate in some drills at the NFL Combine eight weeks ago.
Frazier is the first WVU player taken in the second round since quarterback Geno Smith was chosen by the New York Jets in 2013. He is West Virginia’s highest draft pick since safety Karl Joseph went in the first round in 2016.
.@pat_fry5 announced the pick of @zfrazier54 🙌
📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ABC/ESPN pic.twitter.com/d3oS3OnlVi
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 27, 2024
Frazier becomes West Virginia’s 45th player picked in the last 20 drafts, including the fifth offensive lineman over that time.
He is the second alumnus of Fairmont Senior to be drafted in the last two years, joining his former high school and college teammate Dante Stills with that honor. Stills, a defensive lineman, was a sixth-round selection of the Arizona Cardinals a year ago.
Frazier’s selection ensures West Virginia’s had at least one player chosen in 20 of the last 22 drafts. The two years the Mountaineers didn’t were 2006 and 2022.