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Frazier, Stone sign with Colorado Mines, Chadron State
Sam Frazier and J.D. Stone, three-year starters on the McCook High School football team, signed letters of intent Wednesday with NCAA Division II programs from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Wednesday was the first day of the college football signing period throughout the United States.
Frazier signed with the Colorado School of Mines and Stone inked with Chadron State College.
The duo helped the Bison football team post a 35-3 record over three seasons while playing for the coaching staff led by head coach Jeff Gross.
McCook was the Nebraska Class B state runnerup in 2005 and 2007 and lost in the semifinals of the state playoffs in 2006.
Frazier, a 6-foot-2, 225-pounder, is projected as an inside linebacker for the Orediggers, who finished the 2006 season with a 6-2 record.
Frazier, the son of Joe and Jody Frazier, chose Colorado Mines over offers from the United States Air Force Academy, the University of Nebraska-Omaha (where his brother Stuart played for four years and where Bison alum Trent Lyons plays) and Hastings College.
He also turned down an offer to walk on at the University of Nebraska.
"I got some interest -- they asked me to walk on," Frazier said. "I was being recruited by Division I schools but never got an offer."
Frazier plans to major in biological engineering and might attend medical school.
"I can still have a good paying job," he said. "I don't have to go to medical school."
Frazier, who said he prefers playing defense over offense, said playing for McCook should help prepare him for playing college football.
"Coach Gross has always demanded perfection," Frazier said.
Stone, the son of Donna Stone and Roger Stone, chose Chadron State over offers from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, Fort Hays State University and Hastings College.
"They gave me the best deal," Stone said. "Playing for coach (Bill) O'Boyle will be a lot of fun. It's a big weight off my shoulders."
Stone, 6-2, 205 pounds, is projected as a defensive end. He did not want to put 60 pounds on to play the offensive line and thinks he can get to 235 pounds by his senior year.
Stone, who said wants to become a teacher and a coach, added that it will be a lot of fun to play against Frazier and Colorado Mines.
He added that playing for McCook and coach Gross helped him to get ready for college football.
"It prepared me a lot," Stone said. "Coach Gross is the best high school coach in the state. I put him up there with the best in the nation."
Gross, who said there will be more Bison players signing football letters of intent, said Frazier and Stone will contribute immediately to their new teams.
"Sam was sold on the Colorado School of Mines from the minute he stepped on the campus," Gross said. "Sam is very dedicated and is a difference-maker. They wanted a kid who wanted to be a difference-maker.
"Sam and J.D. were three-year starters at McCook -- you have to be pretty good. They were difference-makers from the moment they put on the uniform. These are huge signings for McCook football and McCook academics.
"J.D. going to Chadron is a culmination of a lot of hard work. Coach O'Boyle has been recruiting him since he was a freshman.
"He is a perfect fit. I think he's going to have a great career. For us J.D. has always been a leader. He is a student of the game."