West Virginia

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 23, West Virginia OL Zach Frazier

Published

2 years ago

April 15, 2024

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 23, West Virginia OL Zach Frazier

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

Do the Green Bay Packers think Zach Tom’s best position is at center? After putting together a good season at right tackle, would the Packers consider kicking Tom inside to center and leaving a hole at right tackle?

Until that switch happens, let’s operate under the assumption that Tom will be the team’s starting right tackle for the foreseeable future.

With Josh Myers entering the final year of his rookie contract, the Packers will likely look to add a center in the upcoming draft. Even if they view Tom as a long-term answer at center, the Packers need to bolster the depth on the interior of the offensive line.

A potential target is Zach Frazier. The West Virginia interior offensive linemen checks in at No. 23 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

A three-star recruit with an impressive prep wrestling career, Frazier started eight games at left guard and one game at center during his first season at West Virginia. He followed that up by starting 37 games at center before suffering a broken leg in his final collegiate game.

I know you love Zach Frazier then. Four-time heavyweight state champion wrestler in HS. Only 2 losses in his career and both came his freshman year.
He won the DNA lottery for a center: his dad played college football. His mom’s dad and brothers were big-time wrestlers. https://t.co/Mw7N0nm3pV
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 22, 2024

“Frazier was the engine of the West Virginia offense and the heartbeat of what the Mountaineers were able to accomplish upfront,” Keenan Cummings, the managing editor for WVSports.com, said. “The in-state native started all but one game during his career in Morgantown and spent his first season as a guard before shifting over to center. He displayed some significant growth over his career developing not only with his snaps but his recognition despite never playing there before in his career. Frazier is more of a lead-by-example type of player but over his career became more than comfortable addressing his teammates. The offensive line was a massive strength for West Virginia in 2023 leading power five teams in rushing and permitting just 10 sacks all year. Frazier was a major part of that success on many different levels.”

5⃣4⃣ left it 𝙖𝙡𝙡 on the field & showed the world what it means to be a Mountaineer 🫡
Selfless. Tough. Devoted. @zfrazier54 | #HailWV pic.twitter.com/guBrPlTiIM
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) November 29, 2023

Frazier is a powerful run blocker. He explodes out of his stance to quickly get on top of defenders and shows no restrictions on the move. The former wrestler has strong hands and is able to latch onto his targets and control them like a ventriloquist dummy.

“Frazier has a stout frame and the former wrestler plays with great power and leverage,” Cummings said. “He plays with a high motor and is relentless in his blocking with a lot of strength. He also is very smart and understands the game as well as his role up front. One play that sums up the toughness, effort and smarts that Frazier brings to the table was in the season finale against Baylor, Frazier quite literally pushed Hudson Clement for a first down to stop the clock before getting rolled up on and sustaining a significant injury. Instead of allowing a ten-second runoff, Frazier quite literally crawled on all fours to the sideline before pulling himself up and hopping off the field. West Virginia would score on that final possession and win that game.”

Frazier is a technician in pass protection. Everything works in unison. He plays with good knee bend and doesn’t allow anybody to out-leverage him. Frazier is able to overcome his lack of length with his quick feet and instincts to close off any rushing lanes. This past season, Frazier gave up zero sacks and just six pressures.

“Frazier doesn’t have the longest arms but makes up for it with his plus instincts and smarts,” Cummings said. “He is able to put himself in good position and has the athleticism to handle the role. Frazier didn’t allow a sack all season in 2023.”

Fit with the Packers

Given his history of playing guard, Frazier will be an even more attractive target for the Packers as they need to bolster the depth on the interior of the offensive line.

In the short term, he could challenge Josh Myers for starting reps at center and also provide competition at right guard for Sean Rhyan. In the long term, Frazier could be the anchor of Green Bay’s offensive line during the Jordan Love era.

“Frazier is not only a very impressive football player, he is perhaps even more so off the field,” Cummings said. “Frazier has a four-year body of work that is as good as any center in this draft and off the field is a strong representative for any organization. You won’t find any people in Morgantown who have anything negative to say about Frazier and replacing him is going to be no easy task for West Virginia.”

A leader on and off the field. Tough as nails. Highly intelligent. Versatile. Frazier checks a lot of boxes and with the Packers potentially looking for their future starting center, he could be a target with the 41st pick.

Source link

Click to comment

West Virginia

West Virginia Surrenders Six-Run Lead, Falls in Series Finale to Kennesaw State

Published

12 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

West Virginia Surrenders Six-Run Lead, Falls in Series Finale to Kennesaw State

West Virgnia built a six-run lead through five and half innings, but the Kennesaw State Owls (5-5) scored seven unanswered runs in three frames to knock off the Mountaineers (8-2) Sunday afternoon 7-6.

West Virginia captured an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first after sophomore Matt Ineich hit a leadoff single before sophomore Gavin Kelly and senior Paul Schoenfeld were issued walks to load the bases with two outs on the board. Then, redshirt freshman Ryan Maggy line a two-RBI single to centerfield in his first career start.

The Mountaineers extended their lead in the second when Kelly hit a three went opposite field for a three-run home run, his first of the season, for a 5-0 advantage.

West Virginia starting southpaw pitcher Maxx Yehl threw five scoreless innings. The redshirt junior recorded four strikeouts on the day and limited the Owls to four hits.

Kelly added a run in the sixth, clearing the centerfield wall for his second home run of the afternoon and a 6-0 WVU lead.

Redshirt sophomore Bryson Thacker took the mound in the six. After a high and wide throw on a ground ball, a walk, and with two outs, junior Cooper Williams drooped an RBI single in right field to put the Owls on the board. Then, a pitch in the dirt rolled to the backstop to add another run, closing the gap to four, 6-2.

Carson Estridge was handed the ball in the seventh. The senior right-hander gave up a leadoff double before registering the next two outs, including a strikeout, before freshman McCollum line an RBI single just out of the reach of the glove of Kelly. Senior Jackson Chirello cut the deficit one, hammering the 3-1 pitch well over the right field wall and into the Waffle House parking lot for a two-run home run.

West Virginia head coach Steve Sabins turned to the clubhouse leader in saves David Perez to get the Mountaineers out of the inning. The freshman returned to the mound in the eighth. Senior Jamarie Brooks reached after hitting a sharp ground ball over to first that went between the legs of senior Ben Lumsden. Then, Williams blasted a two-run home run and a 7-6 Owls lead.

In the ninth, senior Matthew Graveline nearly tied the game with the swing of the bat, driving 0-2 pitch off the top of the left field wall for a one-out double to put the Mountaineers into scoring position. However, redshirt senior Harry Cain sat the last two Mountaineer hitters to collect his second win of the season as the Owls completed the comeback with the 7-6 decision.

West Virginia is back in action on Tuesday for the first of a two-game series against Radford. Game one and game two (Weds) are both scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and the all the action will stream on ESPN+.

Source link

West Virginia

Delegate Larry Kump, master of various catch phrases, has died – WV MetroNews

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Delegate Larry Kump of Berkeley County has died, state officials announced. Kump was 78 years old.

Larry Kump

Kump, a Republican, served in the House from 2010 to 2014, again from 2018 to 2020 and finally 2022 to the present. He had announced plans to run again in the coming electoral cycle.

“As a battle-tested and liberty minded Christian and Constitutional Conservative, my consecrated action principles of good governance remains solid and steadfast,” he wrote to supporters in January.

He had been serving in the ongoing legislative session, but had been absent in recent weeks.

The daily prayer in the House of Delegates this past Wednesday included an expression of concern for Kump: “A special prayer for Delegate Larry Kump. Lord, you know where he is in the hospital now, and I pray right now that you would send your angels there to touch him, to be with him.”

Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Kump’s death on social media, calling Kump “a devoted public servant who dedicated many years of his life to improving West Virginia.

“Delegate Kump served with a deep commitment to the principles he believed would strengthen our communities and protect our freedoms.

“On behalf of the First Lady and myself, we extend our condolences to Larry’s family, friends, former colleagues, and all those who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him. His legacy of service and his love for our state will never be forgotten.”

Secretary of State Kris Warner also posted condolences to Kump’s family. “Larry was a conservative Christian and a true Mountaineer! He will be sadly missed by his friends and colleagues,” Warner posted.

The West Virginia Democratic Party also put out a statement to offer condolences, saying Kump’s work reflected a lifelong commitment to accountability, public policy, and the effective administration of government.

“Delegate Larry Kump devoted his life to his family, his community, and to his state. He brought experience, independence and thoughtfulness to his role, and he never lost sight of the people he served,” said Mike Pushkin, the Democratic Party chairman who is also a delegate from Kanawha County.

Kump was known for his turns of phrase, for example kicking off his comments on the House floor with “Great googly moogly” for emphasis. He often described his adoration for his “beloved and bodacious wife Cheryl.”

He regularly concluded interactions and written communications this way: “Meanwhile, and for sure and for certain, may God bless you all real good!”

Source link

West Virginia

Vape Safety Act of 2026 passes W.Va. House, tightening oversight and licensing for shops

Published

2 days ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Vape Safety Act of 2026 passes W.Va. House, tightening oversight and licensing for shops

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — The Vape Safety Act of 2026 passed in the West Virginia House of Delegates on Friday, aiming to crack down on what lead sponsor of the bill Del. David McCormick, R-Monongalia, said are the bad actors in the vape shop world.

“They’re very lightly regulated,” McCormick said. “Here’s something that is becoming a blight on our landscape out here in our neighborhoods and towns. They’re all over the state and they need some oversight.”

McCormick said the bill will also strengthen licensing as to who can run the shops.

A key part of the legislation that passed the House by a vote of 88-5 is an FDA registry, requiring all the products sold in the shops to be approved at the federal level.

“Make sure that something doesn’t have 30 times the nicotine in it that it’s supposed to, which has happened, and get a 12-year-old kid addicted to nicotine,” McCormick. “That’s buying something that looks like Pokémon.”

Cracking down on the marketing strategies vape shops use is also included in the bill. It has gained support from both sides of the aisle.

“You walk into them and they have you know it looks fun and all the flavors and all the things,” Del. Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha said. “So when teens go in there, it’s geared towards teens. So I think some regulation is important.”

Other provisions include vape shops not being allowed within 300 feet of schools, libraries or churches.

“I would deem these things almost attractive nuisance for kids and teenagers,” Lewis said. “What we want to do in this piece of legislation, we want to ultimately, above anything else, is protect our children and to get rid of bad actors to make sure that we know what’s being sold in the shop and we know who’s selling it.”

Source link