The top running backs in the country are carrying an average of 2,400 yards with a game left in the season and Hillsboro’s own Jacob Frazier is less than 600 yards from being in the top fifty in the country in rushing and is currently 4th in the state coming off the bye week and is in the top 10 in scoring against other Division I athletes.

Running backs play a very important role on offense and show that the position and as a power athlete, Frazier is more than a running back. A quick threat to any defense, he has tallied as of October 20th, twenty-two touchdowns, 5 of which he scored not as a RB (KO 2 TDs; 3 TDs.)

Frazier is an excellent example of how high school coaches currently integrate the power athlete at the running rack position as the RB has evolved over time since the Emmett Smith days and still play a critical role in the high school game enabling offensive strategies to keep opponents off balances with more than ever present passing game.

Utilizing a running back such as Frazier as a receiver makes him a unique threat. For example, Hillsboro has several receivers such as Tre Dickerson, Darrion Williams, Darius Smith and Gyasai Mattison who open up the offense to enable Frazier to power through offensive lines like a hot knife to butter.

Beginning in the 7th grade,  Frazier found and has kept the fire fueled that is ignited every game he plays for Hillsboro High school. He is a threat, who, if he gets a block, or makes the block himself, and take advantage of the gap and will make his opponent hurt with the yardage gained.

Frazier’s favorite aspect of running the ball down the field  is the fact he loves to run and run hard. “My favorite part? Running the ball, you just run.” Jacob is responsible for scoring 132 points as of 10/20/17 for the Burros in the 2017. Rushing an average of 169.9 yards per game with a total of 1,526 so far and still has games to play. His favorite game from this season was CPA vs. Hillsboro where Hillsboro won 30-28. “It was hard and challenging not just for me but my team as well.”  Jacob Rushed a total of 310 yards that game with 2 touchdowns averaging 9 yards per play.

With less than 240 yard to reach his goal of 2000- yards, Frazier is on pace to do this in the next game as he averages 196 all purpose yards a game.

Jacob came to Hillsboro when he heard that Coach Maurice Fitzgerald was going to be the new head coach. “ I wanted to win and I felt like I could do that here with Coach Fitzgerald.” He says Coach Fitzgerald has completely rebuilt the Burros football team, making all the players not only teammates but family as well. “We are brothers” said Jacob.

Jacob said he owes his entire football career to his family, especially his mom. “I wanted to quit a lot when I first started. She told me, ‘I’m not a quitter’. My mom is my football career.”  Jacob said his biggest athlete influence has been Marshawn Lynch. “I like how he plays, his passion for the game and how tough he is on the field.” Jacob is also tough on the field and has a lot of passion for the game as well.

As a senior at Hillsboro, Jacob is really looking into his future after this season ends. “ I definitely want to go to college but, right now I’m not sure where.” Frazier is a an example to other players of why they should take every year of school seriously because every year of school matters if you want to play college ball.

As a Sophomore, he didn’t take school as seriously as he should have. He let his grades slip and failed to look at the bigger picture of the importance of the classroom and the field.  “ I have to look at the bigger picture. It’s not just me anymore, it’s my family too.”  said Jacob. Pamela Richardson, Frazier’s English IV teacher at Hillsboro said “ Jacob is a enthusiastic student who approaches new ideas with gusto. You can see both of these qualities in Jacob in the classroom and on the field.”

Hillsboro has one more regular season game to be played and it is a Region 5 game. The Burros travel to Hunters Lane High School, Friday October, 27, 2017. They take on the Warriors at 7:00 p.m. Following this game on Saturday morning, TSSAA will announce the Quad bracket draws for the 2017 TSSAA football playoff season.

Readers will want to follow the Hillsboro Globe’s social media sites on Twitter and Instagram to find out where they will play on the first game of the playoffs, November 3, 2017.