Georgia and head coach Kirby Smart attacked the transfer portal and high school ranks to acquire depth for the running back room and may have a major hit on their hands in freshman Nate Frazier.
Frazier was a consensus four-star recruit on all of the main recruiting sites (247Sports, On3, ESPN, and Rivals) and is a 5-foot-10, 210-pounder from Santa Ana, California. After a freshman year at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy, Frazier spent his high-school years at prestigious Mater Dei, who has been part of the nation's top 25 prep programs year in and year out. He finished his career with the Monarchs as the No. 2 running back in both On3 and 247Sports' recruiting rankings.
As a high schooler, Frazier displayed his speed early on, running the 100-meter dash in 10.58 seconds and the 200-meter dash in 21.62 seconds during April of his junior year. The speedster held 25 offers leading up to his commitment and locked the Bulldogs on August 6, 2023. Despite being from the West Coast, Frazier turned down Oregon, USC and national powerhouse Alabama. He joined the Bulldogs as a summer enrollee in July.
Frazier brings a style to the backfield that the Bulldogs have been lacking in recent years with home run speed. Joining a backfield that consists of power backs like Roderick Robinson and Branson Robinson, Frazier can pair with Trevor Etienne to create a thunder and lightning dynamic for the Bulldogs in 2024.
The Bulldogs have had their fair share of freshmen running backs who made an impression on fans, but Frazier's electric skillset could get him on the field earlier than some anticipated. While speaking with the media earlier this summer, Kirby Smart noted that Frazier still needs to learn the playbook and catch up on the offense, but noted that he has "good speed" and is "a ball of energy."
The California native will dawn the storied #3 for the Bulldogs this year, joining a list of former greats like Todd Gurley and Zamir White. Fans can expect offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and running backs coach Josh Crawford to scheme up some gadget plays for Frazier, who could break open or ice a game in a way that’s similar to how D’Andre Swift clinched the 2017 SEC Championship with a 64-yard touchdown.
Frazier's play style has some similarities to Swift's, and it can be assumed that he will garner a similar role rotating behind multiple veteran backs like D’Andre did with Sony Michel and Nick Chubb. Frazier could see a good portion of the carries in matchups against Tennessee Tech and UMass, but he could also be an important piece of the offense with Georgia's tough 2024 schedule.
A breakout freshman year could be a possibility for Frazier, and it could also change the Bulldogs' season. His receiving ability and breakaway speed may be the thing that swings a game in Georgia’s favor at some point this season.
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