Frazier excited about Arkansas' new direction

Brandon Frazier

— Tight end Brandon Frazier of McKinney (North), Texas, is aware that playing time is readily available at Arkansas.

With just two scholarship tight ends on the Razorbacks' roster - Hudson Henry and former walk-on Blake Kern - Frazier (6-7, 247 pounds) knows the opportunity for snaps is high if he decides to commit to Arkansas.

That was something new Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman, offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and tight ends coach Jon Cooper stressed to Frazier on his official visit that concluded Saturday morning.

“Pretty good chunk of the time they were expressing that,” Frazier said. “They have two tight ends right now and that’s something you really need, especially in the SEC. (Current Razorbacks) Bumper (Pool) and Grant (Morgan) were telling me, 'Come. Coach Pittman probably won’t give it to you but you’ll have a really good chance of starting and making an impact early,' which is what I want.”

Cooper, who replaced Barry Lunney Jr. at Arkansa when Lunney left to become offensive coordinator at the University of Texas-San Antonio, has made an impression on Frazier, who arrived late Thursday so he could visit and get back to a school dance Saturday night.

“I love Coach Cooper,” Frazier said. “ We sat down and watched my tape, went through what he did at UCF and what some of the players do in the NFL; it all correlates. It was interesting to see how he’d use me as a tight end. I really like him a lot.”

Frazier is a former Razorback pledge who has been to Fayetteville numerous times for camps and games, and took his first official visit to Arkansas last spring.

He is a 3-star prospect and the No. 16 tight end in the country, according to ESPN, and has narrowed down a lengthy list to a final three of Arkansas, Auburn and Texas Tech.

“It was great, I really enjoyed it,” Frazier said of his latest visit to Arkansas. “Just being around the coaches, the new staff. I got to hang out with the players, Bumper, Grant, Jack (Lindsey) and Payton (Ousley), I really love them, they’re some good guys. I really enjoyed Coach Pittman, seems like he really knows what he’s doing, I could definitely see myself playing for him.”

Frazier was offered by Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Boston College, Colorado, Florida State, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, LSU, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech USC, Utah, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin.

He visited Texas Tech in December and visited Auburn, where former Razorback head coach Chad Morris is now the offensive coordinator, earlier this month.

Frazier reopened his recruiting in November after Arkansas fired Morris. He plans to make a decision soon instead of waiting until Feb. 5, the late national signing date.

“I won’t (wait),” Frazier said. “The three schools that are left, there are only good things about them and not many bad things, maybe one or two things for each school. I’ll probably decide this week or next week.”

Frazier says there are a a few factors that will go into that decision.

“How I fit in and what they have to offer,” Frazier said. “All three schools are really good. It’ll come down to where I think is home and where I’ll be developed into the best player.”

Frazier said his parents, both graduates of Abilene Christian University, do not have a preference on where he goes to college.

“They’ve been really supportive. They don’t really care (where I go). They just want me to be happy,” Frazier said.

Frazier had 39 catches for 877 yards and 7 touchdowns as a senior.

He had 92 catches for 1,687 yards and 16 touchdowns in a high school career where he feels he got better each season.

“I definitely think I increased my speed, my ability to separate from defenders,” Frazier said. “I think I improved my blocking a bit and I lost weight from my junior year. I built confidence being a senior, a leader and team captain, knowing it was the last run with my boys.”

Frazier is wearing an arm/shoulder brace on his right arm.

“I had a slight tear in my labrum, (which) happened during football season (played with it)," he said. "I just got it fixed up after the season so it doesn’t bother me in college. I’m in the brace for six more days and then I’ll start rehab and be out of it before April. They said I could play with it but it could get worse.”