Zah Frazier, at his best, should have Bears fans thrilled about his ceiling

LAKE FOREST, Ill – Zah Frazier is unique. 

The UTSA cornerback stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 186 pounds, something not too common for the cornerback position. At his size, Frazier can also move, running a 4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine – the fifth-fastest time among corners. 

Frazier will also turn 25 in October, and despite enrolling in college in 2019 initially at Southern Illinois and then transferring to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College for a year and ultimately to UTSA for the last three seasons, Frazier only started one season in college, his last one. 

During that 2024 season, Frazier played in 12 games and finished with 24 tackles, 15 passes defensed, and six interceptions. That ability to take the football away left an impression on Bears director of player personnel Trey Koziol. 

"I think he has really good instincts and he's really good ball skills, so there is a couple plays on there where he turns and he can find it, track it downfield, which is a really difficult thing for a lot of defensive backs to do,” he said. “That to me is what jumped out on tape. Is if the ball is up in the air, it's one thing to have that frame and that length, it's another thing to be able to go up and play it like a wide receiver, which was really fun to watch."

What was also fun to watch was Frazier’s film against North Texas last season. In UTSA’s 48-27 victory on Nov. 15, Frazier finished with four tackles, two interceptions, and three passes defensed. 

Frazier reflected on what he remembered about that performance. 

“Man, I ain’t gonna lie, the first one, I don’t know why he threw that,” Frazier said. “I was covering right there and I’m tall as hell, so I don’t know why he threw that first one. But the second one he just had confidence in his receiver like any other quarterback would l do. So I mean, I trusted my technique and I trusted myself too. So I mean, when the ball in the air, it’s 50/50 and if it looked like anybody can get it, I'm going to go get it. That’s kind of how that was and it was a good preparation all week. We had a great game plan from Coach Loepp, our DC, to my corners coach to the head coach. It was a great plan that game. Everybody was dialed in because it was North Texas. That's like our rival so y'all know how that gets.”

Here are Frazier’s top plays from his game against North Texas. 

First interception

On this play late in the first quarter, Frazier is playing off coverage and sits in his underneath zone. For whatever reason, the quarterback attempts to fit a pass in behind Frazier, but the lengthy corner easily intercepts the pass for this first turnover of the game.

No panic

In the second quarter, Frazier is isolated one-on-one with a receiver outside, and the UTSA cornerback is playing off. North Texas attempts a shot in the end zone, and the receiver appears to get his right hand on the ball. However, Frazier times it perfectly and knocks the ball away to prevent a score. 

Change of direction 

On this second pass break up towards the end of the first half, North Texas tries to test Frazier on an in-breaking route. As a bigger corner, the change of direction could be an issue, but Frazier not only stayed with his receiver but made a play a play on the ball. 

Quick reaction 

With under two minutes left in the first half and North Texas down 24-7, the Mean Green decided to go for it on fourth-and-5. North Texas attempted a quick screen pass to Frazier’s side, but came up empty on the possession. The pass was inaccurate, but Frazier also reacted quickly to the pass and disrupted the timing. 

Second interception

One of the aspects Koziol highlighted in Frazier’s game is the ability to track the ball in the air. That’s exactly what happened on this second interception. The ball is poorly thrown, and Frazier capitalized on the mistake and intercepted his second pass of the day. 

Frazier will have to display his playmaking abilities consistently throughout rookie minicamp, training camp and the preseason to potentially earn himself some playing time, but even doing that doesn't guarantee anything considering Jaylon Johson, Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith are ahead of him on the depth chart.

The fastest way for Frazier to get on the field may be on special teams. So if Frazier can earn the trust from special teams coach Richard Hightower and continue to progress throughout his rookie year, that could earn Frazier the opportunity to play on defense at some point in 2025.