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Originally appeared at Steelers Now: Report: Zach Frazier Will Wear No. 54 with Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers’ 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.
Frazier did not run at the combine while recovering from a broken leg that prematurely ended his 2023 season with the Mountaineers, but he did test at the 2024 Big 12 Pro Day. There, 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.
Fraizer does not have the athleticism or upside of Graham Barton or Jackson Powers-Johnson, but that’s fine. Thanks to his wrestling background, the tape is already maxed out in part. Frazier plays with excellent leverage and has fantastic hand usage. More than that, the team can immediately expect him to create vertical movement and in pass protection, he will not be blown back. The consistency that he and Troy Fautanu play with is commendable and something that the team should be extremely interested in seeing over the course of training camp.
Nick Farabaugh contributed reporting for this story.
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