The Devy Digest, Freshman Friday’s – featuring Georgia RB Nate Frazier.
- Nate Frazier
- Position: Running Back
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Position: Running Back
- Nate Frazier
- 5’11” 208 lbs
- Draft Eligible: 2027
- Devy Digest Freshman RB Rank: 2
Who is Nate Frazier?
Frazier was a 4⭐️ in the composites. He attended the football powerhouse Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. Frazier was a dual sport athlete who also competed in Track and Field. Frazier held 23 offers and committed to University of Georgia. He signed his letter of intent during the early National Signing Day window.
The track background shows itself in pads, as Frazier possesses breakaway speed. He runs as if he was shot out of a cannon and gets to top gear within strides. He has very good lateral movement and hip fluidity to evade contact and get to the outside. Frazier does possess the ability to be patient and allows time for his blocks to develop. Once he finds the open hole, he will shoot through and get to the second level. Frazier also brings good contact balance. He will bounce off tacklers and is able to gain additional yards.
2024 RB Nate Frazier (5-11, 210) reached a max speed of 20.8 mph (82%ile) on this 53-yard touchdown. #ReelSpeed pic.twitter.com/3ufRstJvdE
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) June 10, 2023
Frazier was a converted wide receiver who was asked to switch to RB. He possesses a good size and speed combination, but it still raw at the position. We like WRs who converted to RB because they have the potential to be a three down back. Raheim “Rocket” Sanders most recently did this, as did Antonio Gibson, who’s found success at the NFL level.
UGA signee Nate Frazier with Touchdown #Godawgs pic.twitter.com/VyXWf4hz7W
— Trey (@Trey2Triggerr) January 6, 2024
At Mater Dei, Frazier never took on a full workload as Mater Dei employed a three-back system. Their top two runners averaged about 9-11 carries per game on average. Frazier shared the backfield with Jordon Davidson, who is a top 5 RB for the 2025 recruiting class.
Pathway to Success
It would be safe to say that Nate Frazier will have minimal production as a True Freshman. He will get majority of playing time when Georgia has outmatched their opponent. Georgia produces RBs at the next level; and we don’t need to see three years of production as we do with other positions. The best path for Frazier early on in the season is to get playing time in the second half and continue to learn and hone his craft. As someone whose never had more than 91 carries in any season, it’s a positive outlook that he won’t be asked to carry the entire load as he gets into the strength and conditioning program in Athens.
Areas for Improvements & Concerns
Nate Frazier never handled more than 91 carries in any given season. While Mater Dei is a powerhouse who traditionally carries multiple 4⭐️ and 5⭐️ athletes, it is still worth noting that he never reached triple digits in carries.
Frazier tends to break his runs to the outside to get in space. It appears to be his WR background – wanting open space to eat up yards. As he goes into the strength and conditioning program in Athens and continues to get more reps as a RB, he should feel more comfortable keeping his runs between the tackles and take on defenders with more consistency.
Georgia also has a log jam at the position that will need to sort itself out. Trevor Etienne has transferred in and it’s safe to say, he’ll be one to earn significant playing time. Coming back are Branson Robinson (from injury) and Roderick Robinson (high ankle sprain) to go along with Andrew Paul (ACL surgery). They also brought in two other RBs from this class.
The first is Chauncey Bowens. Bowens is a 4⭐️ in the composites. He brings a more physical trait to his game. The second is Dwight Phillips who is also a 4⭐️ in the composites. Phillips is more scat back, with receiving work in his profile. That’s a lot of bodies to contend with.
It’s safe to project Etienne to get a good portion of playing time. One would think Roderick Robinson would be the other back to get a good chunk of playing time this season. That could leave the trio of Freshman and Andrew Paul battling it out for RB3 as Branson Robinson continues to be brought back slowly from injury. With RBs, we don’t need instant production, just a good pedigree and a year of production before they head off to the NFL.
Devy & C2C Value
In Devy drafts, it would be a little bit riskier to take him before the third round. He won’t get much production in his first year and we know Georgia always loads up the position.
For C2C supplemental drafts, the position and athlete himself have a wide range of value. I personally won’t be looking at RBs until the 4th or 5th round. The 2024 recruiting class is better at for WRs, and I would try to collect as many assets as I could from that bucket. Create a surplus of value that you can then flip them for a proven commodity or an NFL asset. This is more of a structure and positional value-based approach, but is something managers need to be fluid about and change their tendencies.
Nate Frazier is a very good athlete. He’s still technically raw and will need additional refinement at the position. I currently have him as my RB2 for the Freshman class – and Georgia will always recruit the position. It’s likely he goes in the 2nd or 3rd round of drafts, and I won’t feel bad that I missed out.
If you’re a robust RB archetype for your roster construction, this is a more upside play and is someone to have on your radar. I just can’t justify a top 24 pick when WR is so deep this year with high end premium talent.
NFL Outlook
The position as a whole has been devalued, but it is within the range of outcomes for Frazier to secure Day 2 draft capital for the NFL. Nate Frazier has traits that project to the next level; and while he didn’t have the receiving production at Mater Dei, as former WR and someone that shows immense fluidity as a runner, he has every right to project as a complete back by the time his chapter at Athens is over. Georgia has become a factory at the position, churning backs one after another. Frazier will need more refinement as a true runner but the raw tools are tantalizing.
Andy Pham
Andy is the creator of the Devy Digest. His passion is devy and C2C. Andy's Devy Diguest articles provide insightful, yet thoughtful commentary to give you a leg up on the devy prospects so you know how to approach your devy and C2C drafts. With The Devy Digest podcast, Andy provides episodes of interesting and exciting topics and when he invites guests, you get to be a fly on the wall, listening in on two people having a conversation where they give you a different perspective. Come, join the journey that is Andy's Devy Digest.