Photo courtesy of BlueGoldNews.com. Mountaineers offensive lineman Brandon Yates answers questions during a press conference.
MORGANTOWN — A year ago, Zach Frazier was the “Center of attention” for the West Virginia football team for obvious reasons, as he is a rookie starting center for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This year “Center of attention” for the WVU football team is Brandon Yates and in some ways the reason is similar, as he is the Mountaineers’ “Center of attention” because he has to fill the gaping hole left by Frazier.
Although both have accomplished a lot in their young careers, both have something to prove: Frazier that he can solidify the Steelers’ offensive line, and Yates that he can fill Frazier’s shoes and solidify the Mountaineers’ line, the group that holds the key to the offense.
Yates, previously a guard and tackle for WVU, became Frazier’s backup last season and was thrown into the deep end early when Frazier broke his leg in the closing seconds of the final game of the regular season, meaning Yates had to start in his place in the Dukes’ Mayo Bowl win over North Carolina.
“I’m slowly coming into my own in my position. I’m learning to prove myself in different positions, to make important decisions spontaneously and to make sure that everyone is the right people.” said Yates, a redshirt senior from Middletown, Delaware, who was considered a promising junior at Liberty Baptist High School in Las Vegas. “I’m getting better with the situations, and now that we’re shooting hard and there are practice games, it’s different than it was in the spring.”
This is not something in the distant future, as was the case when he had to replace Frazier last December and establish himself as a starting center in the spring.
“Then you prepared for the spring game,” he said. “Now we’re getting ready for the season. I’m taking everything seriously. I know Penn State. When the fourth and first down comes, I have to do the important things and make the right decisions.”
That was a big part of what made Frazier so unique to be able to step right into the NFL. Frazier had all the physical skills and the right mindset, but he also had the dedication and intelligence to consider all the intricacies of making the right decisions at the line of scrimmage.
Yates has focused on both areas in his preparation for this season.
“Since I played guard and then center last year, I knew physically what I had to do to get better at that position,” he said. “Since then, I’ve improved physically. My performance in the weight room has increased, but I’ve also improved the mental aspects of the game.”
Not only does the center have to identify the ball before the snap, but he also has to make sure the exchange with quarterback Garrett Greene is successful. And believe me, that’s harder than it looks and more important than you can imagine.
A bad rally ruins the game, can affect the timing or even lead to a loss of possession.
Emphasis on this was a daily task.
The offensive line is an experienced unit with a lot expected of it. The Mountaineers may have lost Frazier and guard Doug Nester, but six players with significant playing time are back, including tackle Wyatt Milum, who is considered a potential All-American.
“We take a lot of things from the NFL and different schools. We do research. Right now, we’re really, really pushed to do difficult things better. That’s made everyone better. I can see the guys who have been here a long time getting a lot better.” said Yates.
“We have a really strong bond and chemistry in this room. Nobody wants to disappoint the other. You could see that on the field last year. We all work really well together. We all know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“We play hard for each other, from left tackle to right tackle. Wyatt does a good job as a leader. Tomas (Rimac) is the most outspoken guy, but he works extremely hard. He’s a genetic prodigy. I can brag about Tomas all day. Me? I’ve stepped into my role. Obviously I have big shoes to fill. Everyone talks about it, but I just go out there and do my best.
“Since Zach left, I feel like I have stepped into that role and become a different kind of leader.”
Leadership evolves over time and since it is a new group, it is trying to establish its pecking order.
“Everyone in the room is a leader,” said Yates. “We’re the oldest guys, so we all have to lead differently. We’re the biggest guys on the field. We’re the giants on the field and we have to have a lot of energy. People see us and say, ‘If they have that much energy, why can’t we?'”
So it’s Yates and Milum and Rimac and Ja’Quay Hubbard and Nick Malone, high-energy guys who are usually on the field from start to finish.
Yates is still learning his position as center, of course, but he has the advantage not only of being just 80 miles and a phone call away from Frazier, but also of another rookie likely to start for the Steelers: Troy Fautanu, draft number 20 and a player at Liberty High in Vegas.
“When I saw the election coming, it was pretty funny,” Yates recalled, “I looked at the draft and knew that this pick was going to be either Frazier or my friend Troy. So I’m sitting there thinking I’m at least one of two… one of them gets drafted.
“Troy got picked and I texted him congratulations. Then a little later, Frazier got picked and I thought, ‘OK, I’m definitely a Steeler fan now.’ Then Beanie (Bishop, a free agent cornerback from WVU) went there. He came back and we talked about Zach and Troy. I talked to Troy about Frazier.
“I’m going there soon and whatever we do, I told Troy, he’s paying for it. He’s getting that signing bonus.”
Yates is aware of the situation he faces and knows what he must do to succeed.
“I just have to be 100% myself,” he said. “I wanted to fit into that mold. I just want to be the best I can be, do my best and be myself. When I was being recruited, a coach told me my main goal in college was to be the best college player you can be and then everything would be fine.”
“That’s all I wanted to do. I wanted to get better and smarter every day at college football. If I do that, everything will fall into place.”
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