Nate Frazier fully embracing 'RBU' traditions during excellent freshman season

NEW ORLEANS — Nate Frazier might be a native of California and only in his first year at Georgia, but listening to him talk, he’s already UGA through and through.

A native of Compton, California, Frazier didn’t grow up a Georgia fan. You wouldn’t know it watching him play though. The freshman has found the end zone eight times this season on his team-high 129 carries and 634 yards, each time celebrating like a Bulldog legend.

“I got an offer from Georgia. I didn’t really know those things,” Frazier said about his traditional ‘RBU’ celebrations. “When I first visited, I was like, I really like this place, and then I started to learn all that stuff. Todd Gurley, D’Andre Swift, Sony Michel, like all the traditions, everything they do, and then I just recently watched a couple of guys here, and then I’m just like, ‘Okay, I want to continue this. I need to continue RBU. I need to continue the celebrations. I need to continue the traditions because that was what they used.'”

From the bow first done by Gurley and carried on by Swift to the Michel jazz hands, a taunting gator chomp and everything in between, Frazier’s first season has shown Georgia fans he’s loyal to the G in just a matter of months on campus.

Frazier committed to Georgia in the summer of 2023 and signed with the Bulldogs that December as the No. 2 running back in the Class of 2024. It wasn’t until after spring practice that he arrived in Athens though as a summer enrollee.

Despite his short stay on campus, Frazier started to make noise when practice started in August. Buzz coming out of fall camp was that it was the freshman blowing by veterans in scrimmages, and before long, that was visible to the public with an impressive debut against Clemson. Frazier went for 83 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts in the season-opener, filling in for a suspended Trevor Etienne, while also adding a 24-yard reception.

Once Etienne was ready to go, Frazier took on a backseat role in the Bulldog offense. There were flashes of excellence followed by a frustrating lack of playing time. Behind the scenes, word was Frazier battling a fumble problem in practice that kept him from earning the full trust of his coaches. Then, there were no other options and Frazier was thrust back into the spotlight come November.

With No. 2 Georgia trailing a struggling Florida team at the half, Frazier tied things up with his touchdown midway through the third quarter. It was the first time the Bulldogs have been in the end zone and helped UGA on to a victory that day in Jacksonville with Etienne limited due to injury.

Not only did Frazier’s score provide a spark against the Gators, but it started a streak for the freshman. Taking on the lead-back role late in the season with Etienne sidelined for an issue with his ribs, he would find the end zone in each of the team’s final five regular season contests including three times on a 136-yard day versus UMass and for the game-winning score in the eighth overtime of an instant-classic against Georgia Tech.

Ask Frazier for his favorite memory of the year though, and it’s a different play in that win over the Yellow Jackets. He credited his offensive linemen, Jared Wilson in particular, for paving the way on the 2-point conversion past midnight. Instead, it was a pass protection where he met a pair of linebackers head on that stands out to him – an area of his game he was challenged to improve upon arrival at Georgia.

“It’s just been a crazy experience, man. It’s just a dream come true,” Frazier said about his season as whole. “Just very humbled and blessed to have this opportunity to be able to play for this team. With my brothers, we’re just a brotherhood. It’s just a blessing, a blessing.”

Picking pass protection and crediting his teammates are mature answers from a freshman, but he’s somebody whose maturity has stood out since day one.

“He’s had a mature approach, and that’s really what you ask of any player,” running backs coach Josh Crawford said. “I think he’s come in and done everything you’ve asked him to do with a great attitude. He practices hard, and normally, when you have those things, things are going to go well for you.”

“He hasn’t been mistake free but the biggest thing is that he’s mature and it matters to him,” Crawford continued. “He loves football. You know, when it matters and you love football, and you want to get it right, more times than not things are going to go well for you. Credit to him for his maturity and the mindset he’s had to take on this challenge.”

Frazier will look to continue adding to his own ‘RBU’ legacy on Wednesday when Georgia takes the field for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame. Kickoff time is set for 8:45 p.m. ET on ESPN.