NEW ORLEANS — Like you, Nate Frazier has a favorite Georgia running back.
The freshman from Compton, Calif, who admittedly wasn’t steeped in Georgia running back lore, singled out D’Andre Swift. Frazier got the chance to meet Swift during the team’s first win over Texas, where Frazier took the chance to ask Swift if he could share how to do his iconic dead-leg cut.
That might be the next way Frazier goes about paying homage to the Georgia RBU tradition. Because whether it be Sony Michel’s jazz hands, or recreating Todd Gurley’s Florida chomp-throat slash, Frazier knows its important to keep that Georgia running back tradition at the front of people’s minds.
“I want to continue this. I need to continue RBU, I need to continue the celebrations,” Frazier said on Monday. “I need to continue the traditions because that was what they used, and I kept them alive, man. Like, it was just crazy just watching all of those things that they did as make plays as Georgia legends. So I’m trying to keep that tradition going, you know, just continue it and let things go on forever.”
Frazier did his best this year to remind the college football world of what a promising young running back looks like for Georgia. Frazier leads Georgia in rushing this season, sitting at 634 yards and 8 touchdowns prior to the team’s College Football Playoff run.
Frazier had plenty of big-time moments, be it his touchdown against Florida or his game-winning two-point conversion.
But his proudest moment wasn’t some big run or touchdown. It was a pass-blocking rep he had against Georgia Tech.
“That’s something we’ve challenged him on on a daily basis,” Georgia running backs coach Josh Crawford said of Frazier. “Credit him for being honest to himself and knowing that this is something that if he’s going to contribute to this team on a consistent basis to this team, it’s an area he’s got to get better at. And he went to work and had a great attitude about it and he certainly improved.”
Frazier hopes to grow into the all-around running back that Swift and current running back Trevor Etienne have become in their time at Georgia.
If there’s one big concern with the freshman, it has been his ball security. Frazier has had a handful of fumbles on the season, including one he lost against Ole Miss in Georgia’s most recent defeat.
Much like his pass blocking, it’s something he’s focused on.
“Just excited for what he’s done. How coachable he is,” Etienne said of Frazier. “Coming in, he was making mistakes. He’s one of those guys you can sit down and talk to and pick it up quick. I feel like that is why he’s had a lot of success he’s had. Just how coachable he is, how eager he is to learn.”
Frazier is quick to praise his teammates for helping him get to this point. On his run against Georgia Tech, he singled out Jared Wilson for clearing a Georgia Tech defender out of his way.
Frazier knows he has to keep getting better. Not just for himself or this specific team, but for the entire Georgia football program.
The Bulldogs have been built by great running backs. Frazier knows he has the talent to be the next one.
“I just think his maturity. Nate is a great kid. Great personality,” Crawford said. “Everybody loves him. But he loves football, loves to practice. I think he’s been mature. He’s handled any success he’s been able to have well. He’s kept the main thing, the main thing. He understands and knows at all times to improve and work on. He’s been international about that.”
