Zach Frazier Is Thrilled to Be a Steeler

Zach Frazier Is Thrilled to Be a Steeler

Pittsburgh Steelers’ second-round selection Zach Frazier grew up in nearby northern West Virginia. He also solidified himself as a legend at the University of West Virginia.

In the pre-draft process, many labeled Frazier as a player that looked like he was born to be a Steeler. For Frazier, landing with the Steelers was an ideal scenario. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

“If I could’ve picked, this is where I’d be. This is a dream for me, really,” Frazier told Tank Tatlinger of Pittsburgh Sports Talk.

Frazier was a four-time wrestling state champion, losing only two matches in his career in high school. He’s as blue-collar as they come.

Offensive line trainer Duke Manyweather said in the pre-draft process that Frazier had Steelers written all over him.

“This is a very strong center group,” Manyweather told Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on the Chipped Ham and Football podcast. “Zach Frazier’s got Steelers written all over him. … Kind of reminds me of a Mike Webster type.”

If Frazier can resemble anything close to Webster, the Steelers will have hit a home run.

The Steelers have an incredible history at the center position with past legends Webster, Dermontti Dawson and Maurkice Pouncey. Webster and Dawson are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Pouncey very well could be in Canton someday.

Frazier hopes to continue the legacy.

“Yeah, I mean it puts a little bit of extra pressure on me, but I’m just going to work as hard as I can, try to put my head down and you know, just work,” Frazier said at rookie minicamp.

Frazier projects to replace the recently released Mason Cole in the center of the Steelers’ offense. He is one of three rookie offensive linemen, along with Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick.

Steelers second-year offensive tackle Broderick Jones has been showing the rookie offensive linemen the ropes.

“You know, I was thinking yesterday, it’s crazy because I look at them and I think about how I came in last year and needed a bunch of fine-tuning,” Jones said at OTAs earlier this month. “I just see them developing each and every day. Getting better at one thing. So it’s just kind of crazy because they look at me for support, but I was just in their shoes last year.

“I just try to help out as much as I can. They’re doing great, everything is not perfect. But, like I told them yesterday, you’re gonna make mistakes, you’re still young, you still have a lot of football to learn. But at the end of the day, football is still football. Don’t overthink it, don’t try to overcomplicate it. Just play football, and everything will work out.”

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