Tag: West Virginia

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

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is West Virginia offensive lineman 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. 

“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.”

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.

A runner’s guide to West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park

Race through the park.

The amazing recreational opportunities in West Virginia’s New River Gorge are no secret. This destination was recognized as a national river in 1978 and has long been beloved by rafters. But since becoming America’s newest national park in 2020, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve has grown even more popular.

What does this place in rural West Virginia have to offer? There are over 70,000 acres of land along 53 miles of the rugged New River. You can hike, bike along an old railroad grade, raft, and rock climb. All the while, you’ll be marveling at the longest, deepest river gorge in the Appalachian Mountains. The park includes a variety of habitats that shelter rare and endangered animals. The Virginia big-eared bat, the Indiana bat, and the Allegheny woodrat all make their homes here. Rich human history is also evident, with rail and mining artifacts.

A river cutting through a gorge at West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park.
Photo by Teresa Bergen

Running at New River Gorge

Want to go for a run through New River Gorge? The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority’s Active Southern West Virginia initiative is here to encourage you. Brandon Mehlinger, an avid runner and running spokesperson for Active Southern West Virginia, wants to inspire people to get active outside.

“Two of the best trails in the New River Gorge National Park for trail running are Long Point Trail and Kaymoor Miners Trail,” Mehlinger said. “Long Point trail is a 3 mile out and back that leads you out to a stunning view of the river and the bridge. Kaymoor Miners trail takes you down through the remnants of an old coal mine area. It’s a unique trail that offers a challenging 821 step staircase at the bottom of the trail and can branch off in different ways on the way back up depending on how far you’re looking to run.”

Two runners on a paved trail at West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park.
Photo courtesy of Active Southern West Virginia

If you like to plan your travel around race events, New River Gorge offers two big days: the six-mile New River Gorge Rim to Rim Race in May and the Bridge Day 5K in October. Both involve the stunning and much-photographed New River Gorge Bridge. Runners pass under the bridge during the Rim to Rim. 

“The Bridge Day 5K allows runners the only opportunity of the year to run on the Bridge,” Mehlinger said. “Runners get to see the park and all its glory from above and really get to visualize the scale of it all. Both races give runners unparalleled views of the park – one from below, and the other from above.”

Runners crossing over a bridge at West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park during a race.
Photo by Jay Young, courtesy of Active Southern West Virginia

Can’t make a race day? Drop in for one of Active Southern West Virginia’s weekly running groups in Fayetteville or Beckley to explore trails inside the New River Gorge National Park.

Originally from Connecticut, Mehlinger came to West Virginia in 2022 as an AmeriCorps volunteer. Part of his role was expanding the Kids Run Club program to more rural elementary schools. Now, he’s the program coordinator of Active Southern West Virginia and a big advocate of both community and running.

A group of runners in West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park.
Photo courtesy of Active Southern West Virginia

“The New River Gorge National Park holds a unique allure for running enthusiasts, and it’s not just about the breathtaking scenery, although that’s certainly a major part of it,” he said. “What truly makes this place special for running is the heart and soul of the community that surrounds it. West Virginians are a close-knit group of individuals that take immense pride in their outdoors. The trails in the park follow century-old paths, revealing the history of timber and coal industries.”

Mehlinger urges people to get out on the trails to hike, mountain bike, or run. “It’s the people, the shared love for running, and the sense of community that make every stride in this park truly special.”

Pink flowers in the brush at West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park.
Photo by Teresa Bergen

2024 NFL mock draft: Chargers trade back, add pair of Michigan players in three-round projections

The Chargers moved back five spots in this scenario.

The Chargers must load up on as much talent as possible this offseason to compete with the back-to-back Super Bowl champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, next season.

With the No. 5 overall selection, Los Angeles is in an excellent position to trade back and stockpile more draft picks.

For this mock draft, L.A. trades picks with the Jets, who move up five spots to select Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. Meanwhile, the Bolts acquire an additional third-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick.

Let’s dive in!

East-West Shrine Bowl Preview: OL to watch for Packers

Previewing the East-West Shrine Bowl by looking at some offensive linemen the Packers could target in the 2024 NFL draft.

Zach Tom and Jon Runyan Jr are two offensive linemen who competed at the East-West Shrine Bowl that Brian Gutekunst selected on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. As Gutekunst looks to add depth to Green Bay’s offensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft, he could once again dip his toes back in the Shrine Bowl pool.

With Shrine Bowl practices scheduled to start on Saturday, with the game slated for Thursday in Frisco, let’s take a look at seven offensive lineman prospects that the Green Bay Packers could be keeping tabs on in the Lone Star State this week. 

Jalen Sundell, OL, NDSU

Sundell has taken snaps at all five positions across the offensive line during his time as a Bison. Sundell started at left tackle for the Bison this season and gave up one sack and 10 pressures. Before that he was a three-year starter at center. He has good range as a run blocker and is a cerebral player. 

Dylan McMahon, IOL, NC State

McMahon brings guard-center versatility. McMahon finished his career at NC State with 43 career starts, including starts at center and both guard spots. He has good movement skills and is a people mover. 

Hunter Nourzad, OL, Penn State

A Cornell transfer, Nourzad made the move from right tackle to the interior during his two seasons at Happy Valley. Nourzad took snaps at left guard, center and right guard at Penn State, including starting all 13 games at center this season. Nourzad doesn’t labor when he climbs and does a good job of sealing run lanes to create chunk plays. He has a high football IQ and gave up zero sacks this season.

Walter Rouse, OT, Oklahoma

The Stanford transfer started all 13 games at left tackle during his lone season as a Sooner and he gave up zero sacks. Rouse finished his career with 52 career starts, with all 52 coming at left tackle. 

Doug Nester, OL, West Virginia

The Virginia Tech transfer brings tackle-guard versatility. Nester finished his career with 53 career starts, including starts at right tackle and right guard. He also has taken limed snaps at center. During his 12 starts at right tackle this season, Nester gave up zero sacks and just 12 pressures. 

Garret Greenfield, OT, SDSU

Greenfield has started games at both left and right tackle, including 30 starts at left tackle the past two seasons. At 6-7, Greenfield is a long athlete and uses that length to control the man across from him. Greenfield finished his career in Brookings with 54 career starts. A Day 3 prospect, Greenfield could be the swing tackle they currently need on the roster. 

Mason McCormick, G, SDSU

McCormick finished his career with 57 straight starts at left guard for the Jackrabbits. In 15 starts this season, the Sioux Falls native gave up zero sacks and just two pressures. McCormick is a mauling run blocker, who keeps his legs driving through contact. 

‘We have to be’: Oklahoma Sooners remain confident after a tough week

The Sooners have hit some adversity but through that they still remain confident they can right the ship.

The Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball team hit their first round of real adversity this season. Yes, they had lost a game before but after that loss, they had some easier games to close out nonconference play and get back on track.

This time around, they’ve lost two straight games, and the schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Sooners. But this is something I’ve been wanting to see with this team. Is this a team that can right the ship, or are they one that will continue to sink?

Porter Moser spoke about how confident his team is after a rocky conference play start. “We have to be,” Moser said. “It was a tough week. The outcome was not what we wanted. So, we’ve got to ask ourselves why. You are going to have to ask yourself why you won, why you lost and address it and get better. I think we know it was two tough games but we expected to win and we didn’t. Yeah, they are confident. We’ve just got to dig down deeper.”

While there are no easy games in the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag], the Sooners will finally take on a team that isn’t ranked. The three teams they played recently are all currently ranked. Also, [autotag]West Virginia[/autotag] is one of two Big 12 teams with a losing record.

This is one they have to have before heading on the road once again this weekend.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Rutgers basketball recruit Sebastian Wilkins shines in Brewster Academy’s latest win

Sebastian Wilkins showed on Monday why he is one of the top players in the 2026 class.

Sebastian Wilkins made headlines on Monday, the four-star power forward showing his potential with yet another sparkling performance. Offered by Rutgers, the class of 2026 player is oozing with potential.

Ranked the No. 38 player in the nation by Rivals, Wilkins plays for Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, New Hampshire).

Over the weekend, Wilkins showed why college scouts have been excited by his play. The Brewster Academy star scored 20 points and added four rebounds in a 73-71 win over Oak Hill (Wilson, Virginia). Wilkins also recorded two steals and dished out two assists.

For Rutgers fans, it was another reason to be hopeful for the future. If Wilkins chose Rutgers, they would be getting a talented scorer and hard worker. However, they have competition.

 

The Wolfeboro native has received offers from Rutgers, Providence and West Virginia.

[lawrence-related id=34201,34193]

While the list of schools interested in Wilkins is sure to grow, Rutgers has made their interest felt from the start. He is a talented player with good length, is aggressive on defense and has multiple ways to score in his skillset.

Nic Anderson named a freshman All-American by FWAA

The accolades keep on coming as Nic Anderson was named a freshman All-American by FWAA.

We are nearly a month since the 2023 college football season for the Oklahoma Sooners came to a close. Still, the accolades keep on coming for the Sooners.

This time, it’s for wide receiver [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag]. Anderson was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, the FWAA announced Tuesday. Anderson joins [autotag]Marvin Mims Jr.[/autotag] as the only Sooners to be recognized by the FWAA as freshman All-Americans.

Anderson finished the year with 798 yards and 10 touchdowns on 38 receptions. His 10 touchdowns were a school freshman record, and his 798 receiving yards are the second most ever by an OU freshman, falling nine yards short of [autotag]CeeDee Lamb[/autotag]’s record.

He ranked fifth nationally with his 21.0 yards per reception and he registered at least 100 receiving yards three times on the year and 90 or more receiving yards in five games.

Anderson was a touchdown machine. He scored multiple touchdowns twice this season. His coming out party was when he snagged three touchdowns on three receptions with a season-high 120 yards at [autotag]Tulsa[/autotag].

He also scored twice while gaining 105 yards on five catches against [autotag]UCF[/autotag]. His most memorable play was when he caught the game-winning touchdown against the Texas Longhorns with 15 seconds remaining.

He had 119 yards on four catches against [autotag]West Virginia[/autotag]. He made his record-setting 10th touchdown on a great catch in the [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag] against [autotag]Arizona[/autotag] on a great throw by [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag].

Anderson was also named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic and was a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Chargers four-round 2024 NFL mock draft

Here is our latest four-round projections that sees the Chargers addressing both sides of the ball, starting with a dynamic offensive weapon.

With two weeks left in the season, the attention surrounding the Chargers has completely shifted to who will be their new general manager and head coach, and who they will add in the offseason.

We will supply you with in-depth coverage from now until Los Angeles is on the clock to inform you who they could target in this upcoming draft.

Here is my latest four-round projections that sees the Bolts addressing both sides of the ball, starting with a dynamic offensive weapon.

West Virginia blue catfish record falls again, keeping streak alive

Michael John Drake becomes the fourth West Virginia angler to establish a blue catfish state record in as many years.

A West Virginia angler has become the latest state-record holder for blue catfish.

Michael John Drake, of St. Albans, was fishing with cut shad at the R.C. Byrd Pool on the Ohio River earlier this month when the giant catfish struck.

The fish weighed 69.45 pounds and measured 50.51 inches. The weight eclipsed the record mark of 67.22 pounds set last year by Steven Price.

According to the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, this is the fourth consecutive year in which a new state record for blue catfish has been established.

For comparison, the all-tackle world record for blue catfish stands at 143 pounds, for a fish caught at Virginia’s Kerr Lake (Buggs Island Lake) in June 2011.

UNC and West Virginia have super-brief football history against each other

The UNC and West Virginia football teams have only played each other twice before. They’ll face off again in the 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Before they respectively joined the ACC and Big 12, did you know that UNC and West Virginia were – long before any of us were born – in the same conference?

While they’re 6.5 hours away from each other, UNC and West Virginia were both members of the Southern Conference from 1950-1952. Surprisingly, a football matchup between the two upcoming Duke’s Mayo Bowl opponents never happened in those three years.

Carolina and the Mountaineers didn’t play each other until late in the 20th century, then waited another 11 years between matchups. Both teams sit at 8-4 ahead of next week’s bowl clash.

West Virginia is in a significantly better spot, winning four of its last five games (UCF, BYU, Cincinnati, Baylor). The Mountaineers dropped their season opener to Penn State, then broke off four consecutive wins.

UNC is the exact opposite, bursting out to a 6-0 start before losing games to UVA and Georgia Tech – both whom are opponents it should have dominated. The Tar Heels rebounded with back-to-back wins against Campbell and Duke, but defensive issues re-surfaced in losses to Clemson and N.C. State.

Even though there’s not a ton to speak on between these two teams, let’s go back a couple decades and revisit the first two UNC-WVU matchups. With both teams splitting the first two clashes, you could say the Duke’s Mayo Bowl will decide the best of three.