{{Short description|American football player (born 2001)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Distinguish|Zach Frazer}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Zach Frazier | image = ZACHFRAZIER.jpg | alt = | caption = Frazier with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 | current_team = Pittsburgh Steelers | number = 54 | position = Center | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|08|29}} | birth_place = Fairmont, West Virginia, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 320 | high_school = Fairmont Senior | college = West Virginia (2020–2023) | draftyear = 2024 | draftround = 2 | draftpick = 51 | pastteams = * Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present) | status = Active | highlights = * PFWA All-Rookie Team (2024) * First-team All-Big 12 (2023) * 2× second-team All-Big 12 (2021, 2022) | statseason = 2025 | statweek = | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 32 | statlabel2 = Games started | statvalue2 = 31 }} '''Zach Frazier''' (born August 29, 2001) is an American professional football center for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers.
== Early life == Frazier was born in Fairmont, West Virginia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zach Frazier |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4429775/zach-frazier |publisher=ESPN|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> He is related to several state champion wrestlers through his mother's side of the family while his father played football for the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1480789/2019/12/23/west-virginia-football-recruiting-offensive-line-zach-frazier/|website=The Athletic|title=Homemade: Inside the garage gym West Virginia signee Zach Frazier created to go after his goals|date=December 23, 2019|author=Taylor, G. Allan|url-access=registration|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> In addition to playing sports, Frazier excelled academically: he declared on his first day of kindergarten that he would win an award for having perfect grades throughout elementary school, accomplished that goal, and had a 4.5 grade-point average (GPA) with one semester left in high school.<ref name="auto4"/>
Frazier attended Fairmont Senior High School where he played football and was a wrestler; in football, he played two-ways and was thrice selected first-team All-Class AA while in wrestling, he won four consecutive heavyweight state championships.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvnews.com/zach-frazier-grows-into-his-leadership-role/article_6ff2e55a-2282-11ee-9e45-b3ccea7bfea8.html|newspaper=West Virginia's News|title=Zach Frazier grows into his leadership role|author=Hunter, Greg|date=August 25, 2023|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> He was named the 2019–20 ''Times West Virginian'' wrestler of the year after being the first in school history to win four wrestling championships and finished his high school career with a 159–2 record, the highest winning percentage in Marion County history.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeswv.com/sports/fairmont-senior-standout-wvu-football-commit-zach-frazier-named-2019-20-times-west-virginian-wrestler/article_2f7260fa-7b91-11ea-b08a-c75a0f2c8aba.html|newspaper=Times West Virginian|url-access=subscription|title=One Last Time|date=April 11, 2020|author=Smith, Joe|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> He helped his school's football team reach the class championship three times in four years, winning it once it 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://wvmetronews.com/2020/11/11/true-freshman-and-former-polar-bear-zach-frazier-a-perfect-fit-on-wvus-offensive-front/|newspaper=West Virginia MetroNews|title=True freshman and former Polar Bear Zach Frazier a perfect fit on WVU's offensive front|date=November 11, 2020|author=Brocato, Joe|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> He had 54 starts in his football career which set a team record, and was named as a senior the Stydahar Award winner as the best lineman in the state.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/prep_sports/football/prep-football-fairmont-seniors-zach-frazier-wins-stydahar-award/article_25126ccf-21f2-5530-b7bd-7bfaa61207f1.html|newspaper=Charleston Gazette-Mail|title=Prep football: Fairmont Senior's Zach Frazier wins Stydahar Award|author=Heltzel, Bradley|date=December 23, 2019|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> He committed to play college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, being ranked the second-best recruit in the state.<ref name="auto4"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/a-look-at-the-to-do-list-for-all-american-center-zach-frazier/|publisher=WBOY-TV|title=A look at the to-do list for All-American center Zach Frazier|date=July 17, 2023|author=Decker, Ryan|access-date=2024-05-25|archive-date=November 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109012441/https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/a-look-at-the-to-do-list-for-all-american-center-zach-frazier/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== College career == After an injury to Chase Behrndt, Frazier became West Virginia's starter at center in the first game of his true freshman season in 2020, being the first person to do so at the school in over 40 years.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/wvu-football-zach-frazier-hopes-to-make-most-of-opportunity-at-center/article_6a7766ab-1493-5675-aeb9-698918792ef9.html|newspaper=The Herald-Dispatch|title=WVU football: Zach Frazier hopes to make most of opportunity at center|date=April 20, 2021|author=Pritt, Ryan|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> He then shifted to guard when Behrndt returned and ultimately started all 10 games in the 2020 season.<ref name="auto1"/> He did not allow a sack in nine games and was named first-team Freshman All-American as well as honorable mention All-Big 12.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvnews.com/theet/sports/college/zach-frazier-learned-much-during-his-first-season-at-wvu/article_fad07eec-e7e4-11eb-bc53-9f2cf4caee8a.html|newspaper=The Exponent Telegram|title=Zach Frazier learned much during his first season at WVU|date=August 23, 2021|author=Kinder, Kevin|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://wvusports.com/sports/football/roster/zach-frazier/17041|publisher=West Virginia Mountaineers|title=Zach Frazier|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> Off the field, he was named to the Big 12 Academic All-Rookie team.<ref name="auto3"/>
Frazier became West Virginia's starting center in 2021 and started every game at the position, appearing on every offensive snap in the season.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvnews.com/zach-frazier-named-second-team-all-american/article_6980c870-596d-11ec-bf79-53a874328acf.html|newspaper=West Virginia's News|title=Zach Frazier named second-team All-American|date=December 9, 2021|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> He was the team leader with 60 knockdown blocks and allowed just two sacks while being graded at 90% or higher in all but two games.<ref name="auto2"/> He was second-team All-Big 12, second-team All-American and first-team Academic All-Big 12.<ref name="auto3"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvnews.com/bluegoldnews/zach-frazier-earns-big-12-preseason-honors/article_ad835572-1b6a-11ee-bfec-336cdf189bbe.html|newspaper=West Virginia's News|title=Zach Frazier earns Big 12 preseason honors|date=July 5, 2023|author=Hunter, Greg|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/wvus-zach-frazier-named-walter-camp-all-american/|publisher=WBOY-TV|title=WVU's Zach Frazier named Walter Camp All-American|author=Montoro, Mike|date=December 9, 2021|access-date=2024-05-25}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> He was also their nominee for Big 12 Athlete of the Year.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_scholars.aspx?hof=1017|publisher=National Football Foundation|title=Zach Frazier (2023)|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> In 2022, Frazier started all 12 games, allowed only one sack, and was chosen first-team all-conference as he helped the team average 171.5 rushing yards per game while being their leader with 51 knockdown blocks.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/westvirginia/football/zach-frazier-selected-preseason-all-big-12|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Zach Frazier Selected Preseason All-Big 12|date=July 5, 2023|author=Hall, Christopher|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvnews.com/bluegoldnews/zach-frazier-named-preseason-all-america-first-team/article_3b04cb8a-f675-11ed-815f-cb603d226875.html|newspaper=West Virginia's News|title=Zach Frazier named preseason All-America First Team|date=May 18, 2023|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> He also repeated as a first-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree.<ref name="auto"/>
Frazier entered the 2023 season as a preseason first-team All-American and member of the Lombardi Award watch list.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeswv.com/sports/wvu_mountaineers/fairmonts-zach-frazier-earns-two-pre-season-accolades/article_3beada72-3c74-11ee-8219-6f63beaccbdb.html|newspaper=Times West Virginian|title=Fairmont's Zach Frazier earns two pre-season accolades|date=August 16, 2023|author=Hertzel, Bob|url-access=subscription|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref> Midseason, he was selected as one of 16 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/westvirginia/football/frazier-named-william-v-campbell-trophy-finalist|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Frazier Named William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist|date=October 25, 2023|author=Hall, Christopher|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/westvirginia/football/nfl-ol-coaches-will-be-pounding-the-table-for-zach-frazier-in-the-2024-draft|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=NFL OL Coaches Will Be 'Pounding the Table for Zach Frazier' in the 2024 Draft|date=July 13, 2023|author=Callihan, Schuyler|access-date=2024-05-25}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 2 5/8 | weight = 313 | dash = 5.26 | ten split = 1.81 | twenty split = 3.00 | shuttle = 4.69 | cone drill = 7.85 | vertical = 28.5 | broad ft = 8 | broad in = 4 | bench = 30 | arm span = 32 1/4 | hand span = 10 7/8 | note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/zach-frazier/32004652-4182-8596-4fec-dd3254a7b4f6 |title=Zach Frazier Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 17, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1040216&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Zach Frazier College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 17, 2024}}</ref> }}
===2024 season=== Frazier was selected in the second round with the 51st overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magdziuk |first=Kate |date=2024-04-26 |title=Pittsburgh Steelers select WVU Center Zach Frazier with 51st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft |url=https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2024/4/26/24142016/pittsburgh-steelers-select-wvu-center-zach-frazier-with-51st-overall-pick-in-the-2024-nfl-draft |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Behind the Steel Curtain |language=en}}</ref> Frazier signed his four-year rookie contract with the Steelers on June 10.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steelers sign Frazier |url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-sign-frazier |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Steelers.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Originally, Frazier was named the backup to Nate Herbig at the center position. However, Herbig would be injured during the preseason and be placed on the injured reserve list, ending his season prematurely and thrusting Frazier into the Week 1 starting position.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wtae.com/article/steelers-nate-herbig-zach-frazier/61927899 | title=Steelers place Nate Herbig on IR, clearing way for rookie Zach Frazier from WVU to start | date=August 20, 2024 }}</ref> He made his professional debut in Week 1's Steelers win over the Atlanta Falcons.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FrazZa00.htm | title=Zach Frazier Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | website=Pro-Football-Reference.com }}</ref> He would subsequently start the first six games of the season. As a rookie center, Frazier called multiple plays through his first six starts. During Week 6's 32–13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Frazier was relieved by Ryan McCollum when a Raiders defender fell on Frazier's ankle during a block. Frazier did not suffer any major injury, but was ruled out ahead of Week 7's 37–15 victory over the New York Jets and was considered "week-to-week" on the Steelers' injury report until after their Week 9 bye.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Brian |date=October 14, 2024 |title=Zach Frazier injury update: Report reveals latest on Steelers center, timeline for return |url=https://www.on3.com/pro/news/zach-frazier-injury-update-report-reveals-latest-steelers-center-timeline-for-return/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=On3}}</ref> He would return to the field on November 10 during a narrow 28–27 Steelers win over the Washington Commanders.<ref name="c907">{{cite web | last=Adamski | first=Chris | title=Steelers' Nick Herbig out vs. Commanders, but Zach Frazier and Cordarrelle Patterson to return | website=TribLIVE.com | date=2024-11-08 | url=https://triblive.com/sports/steelers-nick-herbig-out-vs-commanders-but-zach-frazier-and-cordarrelle-patterson-to-return/ | access-date=2024-11-12}}</ref>
On New Year's Eve, Frazier was voted the team's offensive rookie of the year, making him just the second center in franchise history to do so with Maurkice Pouncey being the first in 2010.<ref name="h575">{{cite web | last=Fittipaldo | first=Ray | title=and praise from his teammates for his nasty disposition | website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date=2024-12-31 | url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2024/12/31/zach-frazier-team-rookie-of-the-year-fautanu-payton-wilson-beanie-bishop/stories/202412230108 | access-date=2025-01-03}}</ref><ref name="s248">{{cite web | last=Varley | first=Teresa | title=Frazier, Highsmith win team awards | website=Steelers.com | date=2024-12-31 | url=https://www.steelers.com/news/frazier-highsmith-win-team-awards#:~:text=The%20Joe%20Greene%20Great%20Performance%20Award%20was%20established%20in%201984,won%20the%20award%20in%202010. | access-date=2025-01-03}}</ref> Frazier finished the regular season appearing in 15 games, playing 975 offensive snaps, only allowed one sack and committed just five penalties as the team ended the season with a record of 10–7 to give Frazier his first playoff berth.<ref name="s938">{{cite web | title=Pittsburgh Steelers C | website=PFF | date=2024-04-14 | url=https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/zach-frazier/123419#seasonStatsWidget | access-date=2025-01-06}}</ref> He appeared in the team's 28–14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card playoff round.
Frazier was selected to the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) NFL All-Rookie Team on January 21, 2025. This made Frazier the second consecutive Steeler to appear on the list after Joey Porter Jr. the season prior.<ref name="v964">{{cite web | last=Rutter | first=Joe | title=Steelers center Zach Frazier named to PFWA all-rookie team | website=TribLIVE.com | date=2025-01-21 | url=https://triblive.com/sports/steelers-center-zach-frazier-named-to-pfwa-all-rookie-team/ | access-date=2025-01-22}}</ref> In addition to this, Frazier was the recipient of the Joe Greene Great Performance Award.<ref name="h495">{{cite web | last=Varley | first=Teresa | title=Frazier named to PFWA All-Rookie Team | website=Steelers.com | date=2025-01-21 | url=https://www.steelers.com/news/frazier-named-to-pfwa-all-rookie-team | access-date=2025-01-22}}</ref>
===2025 season=== [[File:McCormickRodgersFrazier.jpg|thumb|Frazier (54) alongside Aaron Rodgers and Mason McCormick during a Steelers practice in 2025]] During his sophomore training camp, Frazier began taking first team reps. He struggled in his initial practices with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Frazier told Pittsburgh media that he will “fix it” as it was something he “normally” didn't struggle with.<ref name="n663">{{cite web | last=Rutter | first=Joe | title=Zach Frazier trying to overcome low snaps to Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers early in camp | website=TribLIVE.com | date=2025-07-26 | url=https://triblive.com/sports/zach-frazier-trying-to-overcome-low-snaps-to-steelers-qb-aaron-rodgers-early-in-camp/ | access-date=2025-07-27}}</ref> Ultimately, Frazier was named the Steelers starting center for a second consecutive season when the team's first depth chart was released on September 2. <ref name="h447">{{cite web | title=Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Depth Chart | website=ESPN | date=2025-09-07 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/pit | access-date=2025-09-07}}</ref> He made his first start of the year in Week 1's matchup with the New York Jets, which the Steelers won 34–32. He was named one of the best centers in the league for his performance in Week 1 by PFF, placing in third behind Tyler Linderbaum and Creed Humphrey. <ref name="g422">{{cite web | last=Vasquez | first=Andrew | title=Steelers C Zach Frazier ranked as a top center in NFL, per PFF | website=Steelers Wire | date=2025-06-08 | url=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/steelers/2025/06/08/steelers-zach-frazier-pff/84104587007/ | access-date=2025-09-11}}</ref><ref name="w007">{{cite web | last1=Vasquez | first1=Andrew | last2=Wire | first2=Steelers | title=PFF's highest-graded Steelers on offense vs. Jets in Week 1 | website=Yahoo Sports | date=2025-09-09 | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/article/pffs-highest-graded-steelers-offense-064523779.html | access-date=2025-09-11}}</ref>
==NFL career statistics== {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="2"| Legend |- | '''Bold''' | Career high |}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="7"| Offense |- ! GP !! GS !! Snaps !! Holding !! False Start || Illegal Shift |- ! 2024 !! PIT | 15 || 15 || 976 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2025 !! PIT | 17 || 16 || '''1026''' || '''2''' || '''1''' || 0 |- ! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FrazZa00.htm Career] ! 32 !! 31 !! 2002 !! 3 !! 1 !! 0 |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Twitter|zfrazier54}} *[https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/zach-frazier/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio] * [https://wvusports.com/sports/football/roster/zach-frazier/17041 West Virginia Mountaineers bio] {{Pittsburgh Steelers roster navbox}}{{Steelers2024DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frazier, Zach}} Category:Living people Category:American football centers Category:American football offensive guards Category:Players of American football from West Virginia Category:Sportspeople from Fairmont, West Virginia Category:Fairmont Senior High School alumni Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football players Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players Category:2001 births Category:21st-century American sportsmen