Zach Frazier to Keep Same Number, Wear 54 with Steelers

Pittsburgh’s second-round selection Zach Frazier will wear No. 54 with the Steelers, according to NFL Jersey Numbers. Frazier donned No. 54 during his four years as a West Virginia Mountaineer, so it’s not surprising that he stuck with that number. Linebacker Kwon Alexander in 2023 was the last Steeler to rep No. 54.

Marv Kellum, Craig Bingham, Hardy Nickerson, Mike Schneck and L.J. Fort are some notable past Steelers players to have worn No. 54.

Frazier’s No. 54 is the same range as Mike Webster’s (No. 52) and Maurkice Pouncey’s (No. 53). The Steelers are hoping that Frazier can become the next great Steelers center. Webster and Dermontti Dawson are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Pouncey could have a bust someday, as well.

Frazier is expected to be a plug-and-play Day 1 starter on the Steelers’ offensive line.

Frazier plays with a polished style that makes him a plug-and-play option. While not an elite athlete, he is solid across the board and can work in Arthur Smith’s wide zone scheme. In addition, he allows the team to have far more versatility in the run game process, continuing the gap scheme progress a year ago under interim offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner. Given Faulkner and offensive line coach Pat Meyer are back, there might be a move toward making this scheme more versatile rather than sticking to the mid and wide zone that Smith has been accustomed to in his fabric.

The Steelers showed consistent interest in Frazier through the pre-draft process, interviewing him at the 2024 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and also bringing him to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for a visit. The Steelers sent assistant offensive line coach Isaac Williams to Frisco, Texas to watch Frazier work out at the Big 12 pro day.

Despite not even testing, he helped himself at the 2024 NFL Combine, checking in at 6-foot-2 1/2 and 313 pounds with 32 1/4-inch arms and 10 7/8-inch hands. He has a 7.66 Relative Athletic Score out of 10. Frazier was limited in the pre-draft process by a broken leg suffered late in the West Virginia season

At the Combine, Frazier ran a 5.24-second 40-yard dash, a 4.69-second shuttle, a 7.85-second three-cone drill, an 8-foot-4 broad jump, and a 28 1/2-inch vertical jump. That shows his toughness, as does the grit to crawl off the field right after breaking his leg.

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 and impressing NFL scouts in the process. The Fairmont, W.Va. native capped off his Mountaineer career as an All-American and finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.

The Steelers were rumored to be interested in Frazier throughout the entire draft process.

Part of this story was initially posted on our partner Steelers Now.