Ducks Digest

Ranking the Contenders, Nate Frazier Shifts Into Decision Mode

One of the nation's top all-purpose backs is closing in on his decision.

Max Torres

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We're entering an important part of the recruiting calendar for Oregon. 

Top targets across the country have been taking visits all summer and want to wrap up their recruitments so they can focus on strong senior season. 

One of those players is Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei running back Nate Frazier, who will announce his decision on August 6 according to Greg Biggins of 247Sports.

Ranked the No. 4 running back in the 2024 class by the 247Sports Composite, the 5-foot-11, 208-pound ballcarrier is working from a top eight that features the likes of Oregon, Georgia and Nebraska among others.

Today, we're ranking some of the top contenders.

1. Georgia Bulldogs

Surprise surprise, Georgia is in the running for one of the best football players in the country. 

Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs have the No. 1 class in the country and after speaking with some sources are my leader for Frazier. He's taken multiple trips out to Athens but has yet to take his official visit.

Taking multiple cross-country trips on your own dime speaks a lot to his interest in Georgia, who already hold a commitment from North Palm Beach (Fla.) The Benjamin School running back Chauncey Bowens. Frazier took his last trip to Athens back in June the same weekend that Bowens formally flipped his commitment from Florida, and I heard the plan was to get him and Frazier to pop during that trip.

Dell McGee has proven he can go anywhere in the country to land a back and that includes Southern California after flipping former UCLA commit Rodrick Robinson from San Diego (Calif.) Lincoln in the 2023 cycle. 

While Frazier has never named a leader on the record, I think it's Georgia heading into his commitment.

2. Oregon Ducks 

Oregon has been a strong player in this recruitment from the moment Carlos Locklyn offered last fall. The Ducks have shown as much interest as any other school throughout the process and have hosted Frazier numerous times.

He has a very strong relationship with Locklyn, which has certainly helped keep them alive in this one. The Mater Dei pipeline has been a strong one for the Ducks, who already hold a commitment from Frazier's teammate Jack Ressler this cycle, with defensive lineman Aydin Breland and offensive tackle Brandon Baker also sitting at the top of the board at their respective positions.

Oregon already has one commit in Washington, D.C. St. John's back Da'Jaun Riggs, but I know they're doing all they can to stay in the mix until the very end here and battling hard.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide

Similar to Georgia, there's really not much that needs to be said about Alabama. The Crimson Tide are simply one of the best year after year on the recruiting trail and the allure of playing for Nick Saban gives Alabama a shot here as well. 

They don't have any running backs in the fold just yet but they signed arguably the top duo at the position last cycle in Richard Young (FL) and Justice Haynes (GA). 

Frazier took his official visit to Tuscaloosa in June and the promise of NFL development surely carries some significant weight.

4. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska is another school that's had some momentum with the elite running back. He took a trip to Lincoln alongside Brandon Baker and I'm sure Matt Rhule would love to sign two of Mater Dei's finest this cycle. 

With 24 verbal commits the Cornhuskers have the No. 20 class in 2024 according to 247Sports and there's some real momentum and confidence in that program that we haven't seen in a long time. They already have one back in the fold in Lancaster (Tex.) product Kewan Lacy, but Frazier has a spot if he wants it.

5. Texas A&M Aggies 

I went back and forth here between the Aggies and Tennessee Volunteers, but I'm giving the Aggies the nod after hosting him in June. 

Jimbo Fisher has proven that his school can be a contender for any top prospect in the country after signing a historic haul in the 2022 class. Texas A&M has a top-10 group with 18 verbal commits and they're still looking for their first running back pledge. Fisher is one of the brightest offensive minds in college football, which makes them a contender with Frazier, albeit not one of the leaders in my mind.

Junior Film

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Max Torres
MAX TORRES

Max Torres is the publisher and lead editor of Ducks Digest. He's covered the Oregon football and recruiting beats for four years. He's based out of Long Beach, CA and travels around Southern California and the country covering top high school football prospects.

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