Michigan offensive lineman Blake Frazier was thrust into action last Saturday after left tackle Evan Link went down with a knee injury in the first quarter against Washington. With Link expected to be sidelined for the next few weeks, Frazier is in line to get his first career start in the battle for the Paul Bunyan trophy on Saturday at Michigan State.
“I’m really proud of him and the player that he has become,” head coach Sherrone Moore told the media this week. “He’s obviously gained weight — he came
in here at like 255 pounds and is almost 300 now, so having a guy like that ready to go was huge and he played well. He has some things to fix, as we all do, but he definitely stepped up in a time of need.”
Frazier has certainly placed an emphasis on bulking up since arriving on campus last year, and his ability to gain nearly 50 pounds has put him in position to find success. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound redshirt freshman played 60 snaps last week, earning the second-highest overall grade (66.3) and the best pass blocking grade (72.0) on Michigan’s offensive line, per Pro Football Focus.
Even though the Washington game was the first time he saw extended playing time, his appearances earlier in the season helped prepare him for this opportunity to start. Frazier has appeared in every game this season, mainly as an additional offensive lineman in jumbo formations but also at left tackle and right tackle.
“Getting some playing time without officially starting was a good way to get rid of the butterflies earlier in the season,” Frazier told the media on Tuesday. “After not getting any playing time last year, getting out there, especially against New Mexico, was just a good way to knock off any pregame jitters I had. I hadn’t played since high school so it was a good way to ease into the season.”
Edge rusher Derrick Moore expressed confidence in Frazier manning down the left tackle spot, while also expressing some encouragement for him when he inevitably makes mistakes.
“Blake is a good kid and a good player,” Moore said. “I’m proud of him for this moment to go out there and show the world who he is. I trust him to go out and do the job this week. I feel like my job this week is to make him the best player that I can, and as a leader, just to let him know that if he messes up, the only thing he can do is just going on to the next play.”
Frazier is certainly aware that playing left tackle comes with a lot of pressure and scrutiny since it includes protecting the quarterback’s blindside. There’s no doubt Frazier will have his hands full trying to protect Bryce Underwood in an intense and physical rivalry game, but he sounds ready for the moment.
“Having that pressure of knowing I’m in charge of this guy’s blindside is something that I pride myself on,” Frazier said “It allows me to play more freely and have a certain sense of responsibility. It’s an emotional game, but we talk all the time about playing with passion and not emotion. We understand what this game means and we’ll put our heart and soul into it.”
With his father being a former Michigan offensive lineman and a member of the 1997 national championship team, Frazier has a unique perspective on this rivalry. He’s been around it his entire life and he’s now on the verge of making his first college start in this game.
“Growing up a Michigan fan and knowing what this game means, I’m just excited. Especially with it being a night game in East Lansing, it’s going to be a good opportunity to see what we have as a team,” Frazier said. “I’ve known what it’s like to play in this game since I was five years old. It’s the state championship, so you have to give it everything you have.”
