Interview: 2018 Arizona OT Rafael Frias Planting Defenders to 3-Star Ranking

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Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

When watching Rafael “Ralph” Frias in action, it does not take long to understand why he is one of the top players in his class, not only in Arizona but across the nation. Frias has all the intangibles that college coaches love and opposing defenders hate making him one of the top offensive tackles in the 2018 class.

Football is about executing an assigned play and dominating your opponent in the process. When Frias fires off on any given snap, best to bet on Safford High School’s standout tackle notching another pancake block or at a minimum neutralizing a defender play after play giving his quarterback time to throw and his running backs lanes to pick up yards. Perhaps even more telling, Frias plays with a nice nasty streak in the trenches.

The Bulldogs have been blessed with Frias’ talents, no matter how raw, since his freshman season. Even then coaches knew they had a major talent on their hands that could dominate against Arizona 3A competition. Frias has grown on and off the field now tipping the scales as a 6-7, 305 pound, lineman.

His play on the field has already attracted the attention of college coaches seeing his potential and upside at the next level. New Mexico State is the first Division-I program to offer with recruiters from the Pac-12, Big Sky, and Mountain West all showing interest. Frias should see a spike in his recruiting attention as the 2016 college football season winds down and staffs start looking to the future in recruiting class. Coupled with immediate off-season interest, should Frias decide to go on a college camp circuit this summer showcasing his talents in person, his offer list is sure to grow dramatically.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Frias to get an overview on his junior season to date and received an update on his recruiting process.

Interview

Ralph, when did you get the call up to the varsity level?

“My freshman year. After our second day in full pads, one of the coaches called me up right away to see if I was varsity material. I earned the spot.”

And as they say, the rest is history.

(Laughs) “Yes.”

Do you remember what your height and weight then?

“I think I was a round 6-5, I’m not sure how much I weighed.”

Now you are a 6-7, 305 pound, left tackle half way through your third year of varsity experience. You have a lot of on the field experience against talented players, what do you do better at this point in your career, pass set or run block?

“I don’t know that I am better at one over the other. I believe it is the same. No matter what, I’m not letting the other guy through the hole. That is my job and I do it well.”

Stats for the Bulldogs show the team is run-heavy. How often does the team run off tackle left or through the B gap on the left side?

“I’m not sure, I just block who is in front of me and take care of my responsibility. Our offense is filled with all kinds of cut-back plays. A play starting out to the right can come back to my side of the line.”

What are you working to improve upon this season?

“I am working more on my run block, get off, and hand placement. I’m working on all the little things.”

Did you max out in the weight room over the off-season?

“I did. My bench is 325 and I squatted 405 three times.”

That’s impressive for your size and age.

“Thank you.”

How do you prepare for each game?

“My game day routine is going to Subway. I go about to Subway about three hours before every game. During the week, we do all kinds of stuff. On Monday we work on fundamentals. Tuesday is “intensity Tuesday.” We get after it, full on intensity. I like that day. It is a fun day. Wednesday is a pickup-special teams kind of day. We cover team offense and team defense. Thursday is “perfection Thursday.” We make sure we have everything down with the game plan. On Friday we put it all together.”

Who is the toughest player you have gone up against over the past two seasons?

“I can’t answer that question. I have not had that equal on the field yet, if that makes sense? I will say the defensive end for Snowflake (high school), No. 88 (JR Fox), is good.”

How did he help you improve when the game was over?

“He was more of a standstill sort of guy. He made me better by using more power against me. Most guys I go against are undersized. He was more equal. He was more of a challenge in the run and pass game.”

You have an offer from New Mexico State, which schools are showing recruiting interest in you but have not offered you yet?

“ASU (Arizona State) is showing a lot of interest. Arizona is showing interest. I get a lot of mail from a lot of colleges like Washington, Stanford, California, Oregon – all kinds of colleges from the Big Sky, Pac-12, and Mountain West.”

Have you taken any visits this season?

“Not this season. I did last season. Last season I went to ASU for their rivalry game against U of A (Arizona).”

Do you have any visits planned coming up?

“I do. I’m supposed go to New Mexico State’s game this week. I’m planning on going to a U of A game coming up too.”

Let’s transition out of recruiting and into the classroom. What is your overall GPA?

“I have a 3.5.”

What is your favorite subject in school?

“I really enjoy history, American history especially.”

Do you play any other sports for Safford?

“Basketball and track.”

Which events in track?

“Shotput and discus. I didn’t play last year, I’m planning on competing this year.”

Are you making posters out of the opposition on the hardwood?

“That’s what I am planning on doing this year. In middle school, I was able to dunk it. I kept doing it in practice during my freshman year. I couldn’t believe I could do it at first.”

Last question. Is there a player at the next level you watch to learn more about the game?

“I hate to say it, because I am not a Cowboys fan, but their left tackle Tyron Smith. I watch him to see what he does in the pass game. I pick up the little things off watching him.”

Ralph, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of your season.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Ralph Amsden; No. 77 Rafael Frias post game.

Photo credit: sports360az.com/Ralph Amsden; No. 77 Rafael Frias pre-snap.