Frasier stays put, signs with N.C. State

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on February 4, 2015 1:48 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- Derrick Minor had never seen his running back smile more than the day Florida State University offered him a scholarship to play football.

"I think it was like his dream school, because of how good they were, he has family down there ... all of those things," Minor said. "When the school you have always dreamt of going to says they want you it's hard to say no."

For months, Princeton running back Johnny Frasier said "yes." In August days before the season started, Frasier verbally committed to the Seminoles.

But as Frasier thought more and more, Florida State didn't feel like the right move.

Finally two weeks before national signing day, Frasier changed his committment to North Carolina State. And this morning he sealed the deal, making it official by inking a national letter-of-intent with the Wolfpack next year, where he will be playing about an hour away from his family and friends at Princeton.

"It feels like everything has been lifted off me," Frasier said. "I don't have any stress anymore. I'm just ready to play football. The path was long, but it was joyful.

"After I committed (to FSU), we kind of stopped talking and communicating so that kind of showed me I was just another number in their system. I'm from a small town, I don't want to be just another number in a system."

It was a grueling process for Frasier, one that involved recruiters and coaches every single day. Not to mention the fans who tried to convince him to attend their school.

Frasier at times took to Twitter to express how the situation had weighed on him, and telling people he was going to do what he thought was best for him.

And after all of that, it was only right for Frasier to send out a picture with him in a Wolfpack jersey on Twitter to announce his decision.

"I'm relieved for him," said Minor, who recently stepped down from the head coaching job at Princeton to take a job at Rockingham County High School. "It's a shame that with as much that was going on he never really got to enjoy the process."

Frasier burst onto the scene as a junior rushing for more than 3,000 yards and 45 touchdowns that year. This past season, the senior rambled for 2,226 yards and 36 touchdowns for the Bulldogs.

Frasier will join a Wolfpack recruiting class that has landed North Carolina products Nyheim Hines and Reggie Gallaspy in the backfield. Hines has been talked about being used as a slot back, while Gallaspy and Frasier could compete for the job as the featured back.

"I know I can compete when I get there," Frasier said. "Those are all guys who just want to win. They don't care how many carries they get, they just want to win. So I think it's going to be a great fit."