Name: Blake Frazier
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 302 lbs.
High school: Austin (TX) Vandegrift
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #77
Last year: I ranked Frazier #36 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle (LINK). He started eight games and played in all thirteen games.
TTB Rating: 89
Legacy offensive lineman Blake Frazier got his first taste of playing a big role in the Big House last fall. The son of former Michigan center Steve Frazier, Blake was a in a three-headed battle for the left tackle job against Evan Link and Andrew Babalola. Babalola hurt his knee in camp, and Link hurt his leg partway through the season, so the last man standing was Frazier. Frazier was already starting as the sixth lineman in jumbo packages, so it made sense for him to slide in as a starter at left tackle. But that was still a tall task for a young guy who came in with a ton of potential but lacking bulk. He showed good feet and awareness last season, but there were times where he flat-out got overpowered.
The hope for 2026 is that he's no longer getting overpowered after another off-season in the weight room. There has been a lot of talk about the work of new strength coach Doug Elisaia and guys increasing their lifts significantly. Frazier is still only 302 pounds, so he's a little bit light to expect elite play at this point. I would like to see him up around 310-315 pounds when all is said and done, but he's still just a third-year player. It sounds like Frazier will be the starting left tackle, with Link playing left guard and Andrew Babalola playing a backup or Rhino (extra lineman) role. The group has an excellent offensive line coach in Jim Harding, so if Frazier is indeed the choice at left tackle, that probably bodes well for Frazier's potential to finish out his career and possibly get to the NFL.
Prediction: Starting left tackle
fingers crossed frazier put in the work this offseason. he had a rough year start to finsih, as to be expected with most 2nd year OL. granted texas rolled out some talented defenders but he still got abused much of that game.
ReplyDeletefrazier appears to have many of the necessary traits to bounce back this fall. if the OL meets or exceeds the staffs expectations and helps support a much improved O, frazier will play a major role
I thought Frazier exceeded expectations, mostly because I was so concerned with his thin frame, especially lower body
ReplyDeleteThe bowl game was a showcase for Texas DEs, mostly at the expense of Frazier (Norton got pummeled worse). Hopefully he’s more ready for those quick twitch pass rushers
We are getting top level coaching on the OL now, our guy is supposed to be the best in the business vs "learning on the job" guy. I expect a top unit this year, on par with 2022 and better than 2023.
ReplyDeleteYeah, agree
DeleteI was skeptical of some OL in 2o23, but as a unit they were almost as good as the two years prior
For 2o26, I’m a little concerned with the Guard play, and will watch Frazier closely against OU. My hope is that the unit is better than its parts, and that’s coaching