Neal Brown Credits Zach Frazier for Helping to Change Culture Around WVU Program

Even though WVU head coach Neal Brown spent most of his time at Big 12 Media Days talking about the umping 2024 season, he made sure to also thank one former Mountaineer for the past as well.

Before embracing his team’s underdog role and offering his evaluation of quarterback Garrett Greene, Brown made it a point to express his gratitude to an all-time great Mountaineer. Brown mentioned Zach Frazier as a big reason for the change in culture around the West Virginia program.

“He’ll be the Steelers center of the future. He really changed our program just on how he worked,” Brown said about Frazier. After wrapping up his college career at WVU, Frazier was drafted by the Steelers in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Below is what Brown said about Frazier when initially congratulating him for being drafted back in April.

“Zach, congrats on being selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. From everybody here at WVU football, we want to tell you ‘job well earned.’ You made an incredible impact on our program. You changed our course. And we’re so happy for you, your wife, your mom and dad and your entire extended family down in Fairmont. To see one of our own reach the highest level, we’re so excited. We wish you the best,” said Brown in a video posted across his personal social media accounts.

On Wednesday in Las Vegas, Brown talked about WVU clocked in at No. 7 in the Big 12 preseason media poll.

“We’re coming off 9-4 and I look at some of the preseason Top 25s and we’re not in it.” said Brown on Wednesday at Big 12 Media Days. “We’re picked seventh in the league. We’re not in some of these preseason Top 25s. Garrett Greene is not getting talked about as much as some others. His production speaks for itself. Wyatt Milum is as good as any left tackle in the country. We could go on and on. I think our players are being underrated as well.”

WVU HC Neal Brown Embracing Underdog Role, Feels Slighted by Polls

When asked about his QB1 and leader, Brown reiterated what he’s said in the past about Garrett Greene.

“He’s an elite runner. He’s extremely fast. And he probably throws the deep ball better than anyone I’ve coached.” Brown then brought up how Greene needs to be more accurate and take this completion percentage from 52.9 to around 60, which was discussed throughout the spring.

Brown now looks to continue his team’s climb as West Virginia hopes to move from nine wins to double digits and maybe even securing the program’s first Big 12 title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Only time will tell if WVU achieves those lofty goals, but retaining most of the key contributors from 2023 and adding a few other notable pierces through the transfer portal should help the Mountaineers have another successful season.

Click here for more of WV Sports Now’s coverage of Zach Frazier.

For a related story, Mike Asti explains why Frazier and the Steelers is match made in football heaven.