Garrett Frye

Classroom

The male student-athlete of the year for the second straight year for Georgia Southern University, Garrett Frye owns a 3.77 cumulative grade point average in arguably one of the most difficult majors offered on campus while handling the additional responsibilities of being a student-athlete. Frye was selected to the ADA Academic All-Star team and CoSIDA/Capital One Academic Division I All-District team. He also was named to the Academic All-Southern Conference team in both 2012 and 2013 as well as back-to-back years on the Eagle Honor Roll for GPAs of 3.0 and above.

Frye has never had a semester GPA below 3.53 and achieved Dean’s List honors five times (GPA of 3.5 and above) and earned President’s List (4.0 GPA) once, accounting for all six of his previous semesters.  He was honored three times as a recipient of the Southern Conference Commissioner’s Medal for earning a 3.5 GPA in each of the last three academic years.

Character

Garrett Frye is a gentle giant who stands nearly six and a half feet tall, but the competitor on the field shows compassion for others as he pursues his degree in health care. A natural leader and ambassador for Eagle athletics, he has earned the admiration and respect of his teammates and entire coaching staff as a motivated, dependable student-athlete who truly exemplifies that title.  His level-headed demeanor helps maintain calm presence on the field and in the locker room as the team adapted to a new head coaching staff and had learn new roles on offense.

Community

Garrett Frye is a leader on both the field and in off-the-field activities. A regular participant in community service, he volunteers for all events, especially those dealing with children. He led his teammates in assisting with the regional Special Olympics event held locally this summer and in “Out the Darkness” campus walks to support suicide prevention awareness in the last two years after a member of the football family took her life in fall 2012. Frye is also part of a regular group that visits the local Boys and Girls Club to play games and sports and serving as a mentor. An annual community event, “Real Men Read,” he also spends his time reading to elementary school children.

Competition

Starting in the last 25 of his 31 games played, Garrett Frye has helped lead the Georgia Southern offense to a spot at the top of the NCAA rankings for team rushing average in back-to-back years. Critical to the potent rushing attack, he moved from the right side to left to add protection for the quarterback. The Eagles advanced to the NCAA FCS semifinals in 2011 and 2012 and rolled up 429 rushing yards in a stunning victory at Florida last fall. That rushing yards total, the fourth-highest ever against a Gator opponent, was one of eight games the Eagles had at least 300 yards rushing. Tied with his classmate for a team-high 59 knockdowns on the season, Frye earned second-team All-America honors (FCS) and second-team All-Conference honors. He was recognized for preseason All-Sun Belt Conference honors by Phil Steele Publications and Lindy’s.