Zach Frazier Critiques His Own Game, Explains Importance of Intelligence for Centers

Even as his stock continues to rise, Zach Frazier knows he’s still not a perfect player. Frazier, who admits he’s his harshest critic, offered his own critiques of his game while talking with reporters, including Mike Asti of WV Sports Now, at the NFL Combine.

“I’m pretty hard on myself. I don’t feel like I do anything perfect. I feel like I could always be better, whether it’s my hands, pad level, footwork. I’m not perfect. I can improve in every areas,” explained Frazier when asked what he needs to work on to have success in the NFL.

No matter how hard Frazier is on himself, the reality is he’s viewed as an athletic and intelligent center, and those are two qualities that are making several NFL teams interested in the West Virginia native turned WVU All-American.

Frazier detailed what he believes makes a knowledgable center and why it’s so important to be smart to excel at the position.

“You have to make all the calls for the whole o-line and you have to communicate that from tackle to tackle and even the tight ends. For me, it’s just the preparation throughout the week, studying your opponent, trying to find little tells that can be giving away blitz, stuff like that. Just looking at feel. Really trying to gain an edge from that perspective.”

The NFL Combine now serves as the latest example of Frazier defying the odds when it comes to his rehab. Frazier was seen walking around and told reporters he will run the 40 just a few months removed from breaking his leg on his final play as a Mountaineer.

Despite his progress, Frazier was over two hours late to his schedule interview session with the media, and that had everything to do with the concern over his health.

WVU Product Zach Frazier Updates Recovery at NFL Combine, Talks Health Impacting Draft Stock

“So, I got an X-ray and a MRI on two different areas, and then one team wanted to see the other. So, like, I don’t know, if one team ask for it, you gotta go get it,” said Frazier about what caused the long delay.As far as when he will be 100%, Frazier believes he will be back to full strength well ahead of the NFL Draft itself. “It’s good so far. I feel like I’ve been able to recover pretty fast. As far as where I’m at, I’m able to run a 40. I can, you know, do a shuttle. I’m training for that now. But I’m gonna end up waiting to run those at Pro Day. But I wanted to.”

In addition to questions about his health, Frazier did reveal he had formal meetings with the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears. The Pittsburgh Steelers, however, a team he has been connected to for months, did not speak with him at the Combine. Pittsburgh’s recent decision to cut their starting center caused many to speculate they will be using one of their early draft picks on a center, possibly Frazier.

Frazier appeared in 47 games for the Mountaineers over a four-year span. Frazier’s career at West Virginia came to an end when he suffered a leg injury during the Baylor game on Nov. 25. He managed to get himself off of the field, avoiding a loss of time on the clock late in the game. The Fairmont, W.Va. native capped off his Mountaineer career as an All-American and finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.

WVU head coach Neal Brown showered Frazier with praise once it was clear his college career was over, highlighting how much his final play shows his intelligence as a player.

“I can’t say enough about Zach Frazier. So appreciative of him and his family. I think one play sums up who he is for his entire career, and I just hope our fanbase, a young man from Fairmont, I think he’s the best center in college football,” said Brown.

Watch Frazier’s full interview below.

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