Pittsburgh Steelers' second-round draft pick, Zach Frazier, faced a surprising setback on draft night due to poor cell reception at his uncle's house in Morgantown. The West Virginia center revealed that while he could hear coach Mike Tomlin and team officials, they couldn't hear him when he received the life-changing call.

In an interview on Saturday morning at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Frazier shared his unexpected tale. He explained that he was frantically searching for better cell signal throughout the house to communicate with the Steelers. Eventually, the issue was resolved, and Frazier expressed relief and exhilaration upon learning that he had been selected by his hometown team.

Frazier had been projected to go in the second round and had previously met with the Steelers during the pre-draft process. Driving in from Morgantown for a top-30 interview, he was aware that Pittsburgh had shown interest in him. As the draft progressed, he grew more excited as the possibility of joining the Steelers became tangible.

The talented center's dream came true as the Steelers were on the clock, with Frazier becoming their pick. Prior to being selected, Graham Barton from Duke University and Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon were the first centers off the board.

Frazier's connection to Pittsburgh runs deep. He played a game against Pitt at Acrisure Stadium and even witnessed Ben Roethlisberger's final home game in the 2021 season from the stands. The opportunity to join the team without having to board a plane and drive through the tunnel into the city only solidified his excitement.

Accompanied by his wife, parents, and brother, Frazier made the journey from Morgantown to the Steelers' draft party at Acrisure. The Frazier family, along with other relatives, expressed their uncontainable joy and pride in this significant accomplishment.

Zach Frazier's story of overcoming reception troubles on draft night adds an interesting twist to his journey from West Virginia to his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. With his cell reception woes behind him, Frazier is ready to make an impact as he joins the Steelers' roster.

About the author:
Joe Rutter, a TribLive reporter, has been covering the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park University, Rutter leverages his four decades of sports coverage experience to provide in-depth insights. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.