Like father, like son: Michigan-bound Blake Frazier a key to No. 2 Vandegrift's year
Vandegrift offensive tackle Blake Frazier was convinced he would play for Michigan after the Wolverines upset Ohio State in November 2021.
There was only one problem. Most big-time college scouts were not in the market for tall, lanky players who tipped the scales at 195 pounds. Frazier was a sophomore tight end for the Vipers' JV team, but he figured his body would eventually fill out. He had dreams of following in his father's footsteps to Michigan football glory.
Steve Frazier was not going to squash his son's dream. After all, the former Wolverines offensive lineman had been a major player on Michigan's 1997 national championship team, and he and his wife, Kim, are both Michigan graduates.
Blake figured he needed to put on 60 pounds of meat and muscle before Michigan — or any other major college program — would take notice.
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"Blake hit a natural growth spurt, and he focused on hitting the weight room really hard," Steve Foster said. "I got up and cooked him breakfast every morning and give him a thousand calories before he left the house. We concentrated on him eating well."
Now Frazier is a robust 6 feet 5 and 270 pounds, and he's one of the fiercest offensive linemen in the state. He was courted by more than 25 major programs but surprised no one when he announced in April that he was going to Michigan.
Frazier publicly thanked his father in a Twitter post after his decision: "Dad, I said after Michigan beat Ohio State in the Big House for the first time in years that I wanted to play on that field and in that game. And although it may have been the first time I put it into words, I had thought that exact thought a million times before. Since that day I learned to love football. You were my role model and I wanted to be exactly like you in every way possible. Now we're both Michigan Wolverines."
Frazier chose Michigan over Texas, Oklahoma, Clemson, LSU, Florida, Penn State and Oregon. The fact that Steve Frazier used to block for Tom Brady didn't hurt Michigan's chances of landing his son.
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Frazier is preparing for his final year of high school football with a team that has established itself as a heavyweight in recent years. Coached by Drew Sanders, Vandegrift — the No. 2 team in the American-Statesman's annual Central Texas preseason power poll — reached the Class 6A Division II state finals last year, losing to a tough DeSoto team.
Football seasons are not determined during an August heat wave, and no one at the Northwest Austin school is predicting the Vipers will be back at state. Quietly, though, they know they have the pieces to make a strong playoff run if they stay healthy and get hot at the right time.
"Last year gave experience to our juniors to play on that big stage at AT&T Stadium," Frazier said.
Vipers look loaded for another deep run
Vandegrift, 14-2 last year, is loaded with offensive talent. The most noted playmaker is receiver Miles Coleman, the Central Texas offensive player of the year, who caught 99 passes and scored 13 touchdowns to lead last year's surge. The addition of transfer quarterback Deuce Adams from New Braunfels Canyon and his brother Eli Adams, a shifty receiver, will give the Vipers multiple weapons.
The Vipers also have a secret weapon who was injured last season: Jordan Oliver, a 6-4 senior wideout who will help stretch the field.
Some have compared Coleman, who's 5-6, to Deuce Vaughn, a 5-5 speedster who is turning heads with the Dallas Cowboys. The Viper receiver said he has admired Vaughn's work the past four years at Kansas State.
Coleman said he is already impressed by the team's new quarterback, Adams, saying he has a nice deep pass. That could unlock a few more touchdowns for Coleman, who has been making defenders miss since he was in the fifth grade.
When he played in youth leagues, he said, the only player who could tackle him was Alex Foster, who just happens to be his senior teammate with the Vipers.
Wanting to leave high school football in style
Foster earned all-state recognition last year after finishing with a phenomenal 207 tackles. With Foster and players such as stalwart linebacker Ben Booher and lineman Ian Witt, the Vipers appear to be solid defensively.
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Vandegrift's senior class has become accustomed to winning. The Vipers have been a combined 36-7 during the past three years, making them one of the most impressive football programs in the area.
"A lot has to do with senior leadership and the bond we have from growing up together playing football," said Foster, an Air Force pledge.
While Vandegrift has become an annual contender, it is still seeking its first state title. That doesn't change the fact that the Vipers are highly regarded around Texas.
"We obviously want to win (state) for ourselves, but I don't think we want to win it because we feel the need to validate ourselves," Frazier said. "I think we already validated ourselves within the team, and that's all that really matters to us."
Inside
Vandegrift: A closer look, XC
Our preseason Top 10 so far
No. 10 Rouse
No. 9 Wimberley
No. 8 LBJ
No. 7: Georgetown
No. 6: Liberty Hill
No. 5: Round Rock
No. 4: Dripping Springs
No. 3: Lake Travis
No. 2: Vandegrift
No. 1: Coming Sunday
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Hopes are high at Vandegrift with strong offense, solid defense
