Fernando Frye

Position:
Offensive Line
Height:
6-3
Weight:
301
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Erie, Pa.
High School:
McDowell
Prev School:
Mercyhurst
Major:
Criminal Justice Education

Granted a sixth year of eligibility following the NCAA's approval of an extension waiver on Jan. 29, 2020 … A two-year starter who is expected to be one of the anchors of the Pirates’ offensive line at either the tackle or guard position … Has played in 20 career contests and made 13 starts, which ranks second among all returning blockers … While in the lineup, helped ECU rack up 400 or more yards of total offense in a game on 11 occasions (5/2018, 6/2019) … Officially placed on ECU roster during the fall of 2017 as a walk-on transfer after opening collegiate career at Mercyhurst (Pa.) University … Has played for three different position coaches since arrival in the Pirates’ program (Geep Wade/’17, Don Mahoney/’18 and Steve Shankweiler/’19) … Academic excellence was recognized as a recipient of the 2020 University Scholar-Athlete Award from The National Football Foundation's Bill Dooley Chapter.

2019: Appeared in all 12 games during senior season and made eight starts … Opened the Old Dominion, Temple, UCF, USF, Cincinnati, SMU and Connecticut contests at left guard before closing campaign as the starter at right guard against Tulsa … Played key role for a unit that posted 500-plus total yards in a game four times – 574 (Gardner-Webb), 638 (Cincinnati), 644 (SMU) and 509 (Connecticut) .. Helped offense rank 22^nd nationally in both passing yards (288.8) and fewest sacks allowed (1.4) per game … An integral part of a line that provided protection for three single-game individual records vs. Cincinnati, which included passing yards (535 by Holton Ahlers), reception yards (283 by C.J. Johnson) and total yards (556 by Ahlers) … Also aided ECU’s ground attack, paving way for three 100-yard rushing performances (Darius Pinnix/2, Demetrius Mauney/1).

2018: Took advantage of continued development and an early-season injury to Branden Pena to vault into a quasi-permanent full-time starting position as a junior … Played in the final six games (and eight of the last nine contests) … Experienced action vs. Old Dominion, Temple, UCF, Memphis, Tulane, Connecticut, Cincinnati and NC State … Made five (5) starts at the right guard slot against Knights, Tigers, Huskies, Bearcats and Wolfpack … Did not play in first three tilts vs. North Carolina A&T, North Carolina and USF, as well as Houston … Provided a notable impact up front in three of the Pirates’ top four offensive outputs of the season (496 total yards/UCF, 556/Memphis, 657/Connecticut) … Performance vs. Huskies at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium also included season-bests in points (55 points), rushing yards (415) and first downs (34) … Helped ECU rack up 450 yards of total offense (360 passing) in road matchup at New Orleans vs. the Green Wave … Part of unit that stood 20^th nationally in passing yards per game (284.8).

2017: Did not experience game-day action after transferring into the Pirates’ program.

2016: Listed on Mercyhurst’s roster as an offensive lineman, but did not play as a sophomore for the Lakers.

2015: Appeared in 10 games for Mercyhurst and contributed defensively with two solo tackles … Logged successful hits against Bloomsburg (Sept. 19) and Shippensburg (Nov. 14).

High School: Earned letters in football and wrestling at McDowell (Pa.) High School … Elected as team captain.

Personal: Full name is Fernando Frye … Son of Jendi Frye … A Dean’s List and Honor Roll performer in the classroom who graduated from ECU in December, 2019 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice after earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.72 … Is currently pursuing a M.S. in criminal justice … Has two siblings – brother Dylan and sister Kylie.