West Virginia center Zach Frazier has connection to a Dolphins great named Zach (Thomas)
If you were to say center Zach Frazier was born to be a Dolphin, you might be right.
Frazier attended West Virginia and grew in Pittsburgh Steelers country. He knows that organization has a history with talented centers.
But the Steelers weren’t his first love. Or, equally important, his father’s.
“I was a Dolphins fan,” Frazier said. “Sorry. My dad is from Florida. Came to Fairmont State to play center and that’s how he met my mom.”
But Dad wasn’t just a casual Dolphins fan, which is where Zach comes in.
“He named me after Zach Thomas, the linebacker there,” Zach said. “That’s why I’ve always worn 54.”
That was the number Thomas wore during his Pro Football Hall of Fame career with the Dolphins. Miami hit on another Zach — Sieler — who helps anchor the current defensive line.
Will Frazier join the lineage? Get ready for intrigue on April 28, the second day of the NFL draft, when we’ll find out. Frazier is rated as the second- or third-best center in the draft, depending on whom you ask, with Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson the top dog. The Steelers are in the market for a center. The Dolphins could be, too, if they’re unable to come to terms with incumbent Connor Williams, who will be a free agent. This is where things get interesting. In Round 2, Pittsburgh has the 51st overall pick — four spots ahead of Miami.
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At the NFL combine, Frazier was asked about the Steelers’ tradition at center. He spoke about Hall of Famer Mike Webster and perennial All-Pro Maurkice Pouncey. Had he been asked, Frazier might have also rattled off the names Jim Langer and Dwight Stephenson — the Dolphins’ two Hall of Fame centers, plus Mike Pouncey, Maurkice’s twin who made four Pro Bowls.
Frazier, 6-feet-3 and 313 pounds, played 47 games for West Virginia. It’s his final appearance that still has people talking. Late in the game against Baylor, he knew he was seriously hurt. He also knew he had to get off the field quickly to preserve time on the clock for what resulted in a 34-31 Mountaineers victory. It turned out he hustled off despite having a broken leg.
“I think one play sums up who he is for his entire career,” coach Neal Brown said, via wvsportsnow.com.
The play came up when Frazier was interviewed by teams at the combine in Indianapolis.
“A lot of the teams were impressed with it,” Frazier said. “I was just trying to do whatever I could to help the team out. A lot of people tell me that I won the game. I don’t really feel that way.”
Naturally, teams also are inquiring about his health, so much so that Frazier was two hours later for his media session because he had to retrieve radiology results for one team. Frazier opted to wait until his pro day later this month to show teams he’s healthy again.
“I was lucky that I just broke the bone,” he said. “I didn’t do any ligament damage.”
Frazier’s competitive spirit has been a lifelong passion.
“My dad was my football influence,” he said. “So from a young age, he was my coach and taught me technique. Really just worked through me and developed me and also grew my love for football from a young age. My mom came from a wrestling family. All three of her younger brothers were state champions and her dad was, too. She taught me how to prepare for wrestling matches, football games, from a mental standpoint and also a physical standpoint. What to eat, drink. Stuff like that.”
Frazier neglected to mention that he is a four-time West Virginia state wrestling champion as a heavyweight. You might say his approach to football isn’t much different from when he stepped on the mat.
“My goal is to put people on the ground,” he said.
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Zach Frazier, named after Zach Thomas, could be next Dolphins center
