Football

Former WVU and current Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier reflects on early NFL career, talks WVU season outlook

Zach Frazier reflects on early NFL career, talks WVU season outlook

MORGANTOWN -- Zach Frazier patiently waited for his phone to ring as the picks went by in the 2024 NFL Draft. Frazier was one of the top center prospects in the class out of West Virginia University. He was a three-time All-Big 12 offensive lineman and a freshman All-American during his Mountaineer career from 2020 to 2023.

There was a team Frazier had his eye on. He's from Fairmont, West Virginia, which was just an hour and a half from Pittsburgh, so his favorite teams growing up were the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the second round, the Steelers had the 51st pick, so if he was going to go in the second round to the Steelers, that's where he'd be taken.

"That's where I wanted to go," Frazier said.

With the 51st pick, Pittsburgh called Frazier, letting him know they were picking him, and then they turned in his card.

"That second day of the draft, I was just hoping that they would take me," Frazier said. "They did. It was a dream come true."

Frazier went as the highest drafted player for the Mountaineers since Karl Joseph in 2016, who was taken in the first round by the Oakland Raiders. He was the first offensive lineman picked since Colton McKivitz in 2020.

After being drafted, Frazier quickly made an impact on the Steelers. He started right away at center and has played 32 games, starting in all of them, over the past two seasons.

It wasn't easy to make an impact immediately. During his first summer camp, Frazier went up against the Steelers’ defensive front, which allowed the sixth fewest points per game in 2023. It was a front that consisted of Cam Heyward at nose tackle, who's had multiple double-digit sack seasons, and one of the best pass rushers of the last decade, T.J. Watt. Watt was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.

"We have a great D-line, so going against all those guys, they really welcomed me quickly to the NFL," Frazier said. "But it was good for me because it was a good learning curve. Once I kind of got used to them, I felt like everything else was kind of easy because they’re some of the best guys."

Along with the help from the D-line, Frazier is in his second season as the center for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is a four-time MVP and won Super Bowl 45 with the Green Bay Packers. He's now one of the oldest quarterbacks in the league, carrying a lot of knowledge.

Rodgers announced before this season that it'd be the last of his 22-year career, so Frazier gets the opportunity to be the one who snaps him the ball. Rodgers had said nothing but good things about the 24-year-old center.

"I grew up watching him, so it’s been really cool just to learn from him," Frazier said. "The amount of knowledge he has is pretty impressive. I get to learn from the best every day."

While Frazier's prepared for his third season in the NFL, he spent the summer training at the WVU facilities.

This isn't the staff that he's used to, though. Frazier played for former head coach Neal Brown during college, so Rich Rodriguez came after Frazier's time with the team. Even if he didn't play for Rodriguez, Frazier said Rodriguez has welcomed him to be around the team anytime.

"He’s been great," Frazier said. "He’s been great to me. Letting me come back into the building, and I’m excited for what he’s building there. I think he’s doing the right things, and I think they’re going to take a big step this year."

Frazier worked a little with some of the new-look offensive line as well. The Mountaineers’ offensive line was one of the worst in the Big 12, and a major reason why the team had a 4-8 record. But, Rodriguez spent a lot of money rebuilding the line, bringing in experienced transfers and adding 4-star tackle Kevin Brown. Rodriguez brought back offensive line coach Rick Trickett to lead the new additions.

"I got to hang out with some of them this summer just being in the building," Frazier said. "They have Coach Trickett coming back too, which I've kind of known him, too. I think they’re definitely moving in the right direction, getting some of the right people in the room. I’m just excited to watch them this year. I think they’ll have a great year."

WVU won't be the only team Frazier will be keeping an eye on this season. He'll be watching North Texas as well on Saturdays because Brown was hired there this offseason.

"I'm happy for him," Frazier said. "Wish him the best. I think he'll do well there."

Frazier has his Saturdays booked, keeping tabs on WVU and North Texas. But his main focus will be on his third season in the NFL. At just 24, he's currently a top-5 center in the league, according to PFF. If he keeps up on this pace, Frazier could be one of the highest-paid centers in the league when his contract is up after the 2027 season.

Frazier isn't worried about that and still can't believe he's playing in the NFL for his favorite team. He is just enjoying the ride so far.

"It’s a dream come true," Frazier said. "Ever since I can remember, really, that’s always been my dream. Just kind of living that out. It’s pretty special."