- November 23, 2024
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Coach AJ McNerney, coach Mark Lewis, Rashard Frazer and coach Pat Brown at Seabreeze signing day. Photo by Michele Meyers
Coach AJ McNerney, Sosa Gonzalez, coach Mark Lewis, Rashard Frazer and coach Pat Brown at Seabreeze signing day. Photo by Michele Meyers
Wide receiver Sosa Gonzalez and Coach Pat Brown are headed to Valdosta State University for the upcoming fall football season. Photo by Michele Meyers
Senior football players Rashard Frazer and Sam “Sosa” Gonzalez took the stage for the second signing ceremony at Seabreeze High School on Friday, Feb. 17. Family and friends gathered to support them as they announced where they chose to continue their education and to play football.
Gonzalez signed with Valdosta State. Frazer chose Bluefield State University.
“Thank you for coming out this afternoon and supporting your fellow Sandcrabs,” Seabreeze principal Tucker Harris said. “It means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to them to see their fellow athletes as well as classmates.”
Gonzalez and Frazer started at Seabreeze in the summer of 2021.
“Both of the guys came in about the same time and both have dealt with a lot of adversity to get to this point,” said coach Pat Brown, who announced recently that he is leaving Seabreeze to be an assistant coach at Valdosta State. “We are just proud of their accomplishments.”
An emotional Mark Lewis, the receivers coach, took the stage and addressed Frazer.
“Everybody comes here and has a story,” he said. “Young man. You overcame so much. Your struggle was so personal to all of us. Rashard, you deserve this. I’m so proud of you.”
Bluefield State University has recently returned to play in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Frazer will play left tackle. All of his other offers were for defense even though his highlight film only showed him playing offensive line.
Rocky Mountain College offered him to play nose guard and Lincoln University offered him to play defensive tackle.
“Bluefield has been showing a lot of love,” he said. “They’ve been there through the whole process. I felt like my heart was there in West Virginia.”
Frazer currently maintains a 3.0 GPA and hopes to get a degree in mechanical engineering.
“It’s a hard thing to do (leave coach Brown),” Frazer said. “Obviously he’s a very good coach. I wish he had stayed one more year. I feel like with the transfers he would have gotten, they probably would have made it to the state championship.”
Gonzalez’s first offer was from Stetson University in May 2021 after the spring game. He also had offers from Fordham University and St. Thomas University and was talking to Holy Cross University.
Part of the reason Brown decided to join Valdosta State’s staff was the head coach and offensive coordinator let him know he could recruit who he wanted to recruit if he felt they would be beneficial for the team.
Sosa was the first one that popped in my mind, because what he poured into our program over the past two years showed he was one of the most selfless young men I had ever met in life. — Pat Brown on Sam "Sosa" Gonzalez joining him at Valdosta State.
“My eyes lit up when they said that,” Brown said. “Sosa was the first one that popped in my mind, because what he poured into our program over the past two years showed he was one of the most selfless young men I had ever met in life. I wanted to give him an opportunity to play at a top-notch level while competing against some of the best players and potentially getting some playing time with the type of player he is and the hard work he does.”
Gonzalez signed with Valdosta after Brown came through with an offer. He made the switch from quarterback to wide receiver last year and will continue in that position with the Trailblazers, who are members of the Gulf South Conference in NCAA Division II.
“After being with (Brown) for these last two years, he knows me best — my strengths and weaknesses and all,” Gonzalez said. “In a sense, it’s like a no-brainer to be with him. We’ve built such a good relationship that I am just excited to be with him for another four years. It’s something special.”
