By Bob Allen
Coming out of high school touted as heir apparent to Heisman Trophy winner and first overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft Cam Newton, one-time Auburn quarterback Kiehl Frazier has transferred to Ouachita Baptist University, hoping to play his final season of college football as a quarterback.
Frazier, a native of Springdale, Ark., led his team at Shiloh Christian School — founded in 1976 as a ministry of Cross Church, formerly known as First Baptist Church of Springdale and led by prominent Southern Baptist preacher Ronnie Floyd — to the Class 4A state championship each of his last three seasons, earning MVP honors all three years.
Coming into Auburn — which recently lost its shot at a national championship to Florida State in the Rose Bowl 34-31 — Frazier was named USA Today’s National Offensive Player of the Year and listed as the nation’s No. 2 quarterback by ESPN.com/Scouts.
Frazier played in all 13 games as a backup quarterback in 2011. He started the 2012 season at quarterback but was benched after five games. He competed for the quarterback position in 2013, but was moved to safety during the second week of preseason camp in August. He moved to wide receiver midway through the season, but did not record a catch.
Last week, media reported Frazier wanted to transfer from Auburn in an effort to play quarterback at another school. Ouachita, a Division II school affiliated with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, was mentioned as his likely landing spot.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette confirmed it, quoting OBU head coach Todd Knight saying he will compete for the quarterback job at Ouachita, where his brother, Jed Beach, plays on the offensive line.
Located in Arkadelphia, Ark., in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, OBU finished the recent season 7-3. It was the Tigers’ sixth straight winning season, the most of any college team in Arkansas.
Recently Ouachita President Rex Horne announced plans to upgrade the football stadium in time for the 2014 season. The new Cliff Harris Stadium honors an All-Conference and All-American safety for the Tigers in the 1960s, who went on to play in six Pro Bowls and five Super Bowls for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970s.