Knights' Fraser ready to prove himself
JEFFERSON TWP — Tim McNerney, Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin, Ivan Stapchuk, Matt Goodlin ... Knoch has had its fair share of productive running backs through the years.
Keagan Fraser wants to add his name to that list.
But he's running out of time.
“This is it. This is the time I have to prove myself,” the 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior said.Fraser played only two varsity games his sophomore year as he was stuck behind senior standout Goodlin. He was ready to step in and be the Knights' primary back last season.A pair of sprained ankles and an abbreviated seven-game schedule limited his time on the field to two games again.“That was frustrating,” Fraser said. “You realize how badly you want to play when you can't get out there.“I've strengthened my ankles during the offseason. I've hit the weight room hard. I want to be durable. I know what I'm capable of doing.”So does his coach.“Keagan is a big, strong kid,” Knoch coach Brandon Mowry said. “We know he can take the physical pounding that comes with being a featured back.“He's got good speed for a big back, too. He can run away from people and he can break tackles.”Also a starter at free safety, Fraser plans to make an impact there as well.“Our corners are solid cover guys and our linebackers are athletic,” he said. “I should have opportunities to go after the football, to anticipate and break on the ball and come up with some interceptions.”Mowry believes Fraser can be a productive two-way player like his older brother Scott — a receiver-defensive back — was for the Knights. Scott Fraser is now playing at Grove City College.“We have some other kids who can run the ball,” Mowry said. “Gavin McGowan can get tough yards inside and Luke Goodlin will get his share of carries.“It will be important to keep Keagan fresh because I see him being on the field quite a bit for us.”Fraser isn't shy about what he wants to accomplish out of Knoch's backfield this season.“I want to win games this year, that's No. 1,” he said. “If I can have a 1,000-yard season, rush for 100 yards and score two or three touchdowns a game, we're gonna win games.“Everyone has to do his part. That's football. I need to be productive offensively.”A football player since second grade, Fraser has desired a college football career for years.He's playing this year to keep that dream alive as well as help Knoch turn around its fortunes on the gridiron.“I need to show (college recruiters) something,” Fraser said. “I want to play in college, for sure. To get there, I have to go for it right now.”He could get there on either side of the ball.“Keagan can be a force. He's a talented back and he'll be running downhill on defense. He'll be a very aggressive safety,” Mowry said.“I know he's motivated. I know he's hungry. If we keep him healthy, he's going to be one of the biggest leaders on this team.”
