If one aims to train alongside All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, they must be ready to put in maximum effort.
Matthew Stafford shared an experience with the Kelce brothers, recalling, “[Frazier] came in, and you’re like, ‘This guy’s doing good.’ He was a high school kid, a bigger kid, and he loved playing football. So, [Donald] said, ‘Cool, come workout with me.’ Immediately, I thought, ‘Whoa, what’s about to go down?’ I was over there doing bands or something. Thirty minutes in, [Donald] was just ripping out curls. Next thing you know, this kid is puking in the trash can in the hallway.
Stafford humorously recalled, “I’m like, ‘AD, can you please have a little couth? A little understanding?'” Donald responded, “If you want to be AD, you’ve got to work like AD!’ I thought, ‘Can we just take a break on the bicep curls for a bit?’ … It was unbelievable. The motor just never stops.”
Despite the intensity, Frazier, who was declared cancer-free just four months after his initial diagnosis in 2019, expressed his enthusiasm about working out with Donald. He told ESPN he was “ecstatic” to have that opportunity.
“Just being in the presence of someone I look up to was amazing,” Frazier said in 2023. “I was at a loss for words.
“The workout caught me off guard. He put me through a lot, but I loved every minute of it. I cherished that experience and will never forget it.”
Unbeknownst to Stafford, Frazier was already a college football player at the time of his workout with Donald. He played at Savannah State for five years and was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma during his senior year of high school. After losing nearly 60 pounds during treatment, Savannah State honored its commitment and kept him on the roster. Initially, he played on the defensive line before transitioning to the offensive line in 2021, where he started several games and earned multiple second-team all-conference honors.
Frazier later transferred to Georgia Southern for the 2024 season, participating in three games before being redshirted.
As for Donald, he announced his retirement following the 2023 season. Although he may no longer be on the field or in an NFL weight room, the tales of his rigorous workouts will undoubtedly endure.
“It was impressive to be around him and watch him work,” Stafford remarked. “He was intense in the weight room. The Rock even worked out with him once. He’s a maniac in there.”
