Ruben Hyppolite on how he fits with Bears, Zah Frazier on his journey to the NFL |
Ariana Pensy
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- Friday, May 02 2025
CHICAGO - For the second time in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears traded picks with the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo received the No. 109 overall pick in the draft while Chicago got the No. 132 and No. 169 overall picks.
With the No. 132 overall pick, the Bears selected linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II out of Maryland. Hyppolite II was a four year starter with Maryland and recorded 236 total tackles and 13 tackles for loss. He also recorded his first career interception last season. The versatile linebacker who will have the opportunity to learn from experienced veterans like TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. “They told me that I could fit anywhere. They definitely told me that my ability to cover and my ability to run is a great asset that I have. So, just looking forward to getting in with the coaches. I’m behind some great vets with TJ Edwards and Tremaine. So, I got great vets in the room that I can learn from and soak all the information in,” Hyppolite II said. “Just looking forward to earning my key, earning the (trust) of the guys in the locker room, earn the trust of the coaches and all the front office people and just continuing to perform at the best of my ability and get in there and get to work. It’s all about the work now. So, all the process that I’ve been through, I’ve completed and now it’s time for the real work. So, I’m excited to get up to Chicago and just excited to get started.” Before the draft, Hyppolite II visited the Bears and got the chance to meet with numerous members of the staff. It was a very positive experience that made Chicago feel like a place he wanted to go. “Took a visit to Chicago. It was a great visit with everybody there. I love the staff there and it was just great. They (showed) a lot of great hospitality and just being at Chicago felt like home for me. So, just getting that call was great,” Hyppolite II said. “I just appreciate everyone in that building for believing in me and I’m going to do my best to bring a Super Bowl to Chicago and help out in that regard.”
The other player the Bears acquired from their trade with the Buffalo Bills was defensive back Zah Frazier out of Texas-San Antonio. Frazier was selected in the fifth round with the No. 169 pick. Last season, he was second in the NCAA in interceptions with six. Frazier also recorded a forced fumble and defended nine passes. His performance last year garnered him First-Team All-American Athletic Conference status.
He attributes his breakout season to his fearless mentality and preparation by watching film.
“When the ball in the air, when you got (to) tackle, just be fearless and that’s just something that I (have) ingrained. So, that’s all I think about it - fearless and I just play the down. I would say that’s one of my things, fearless,” Hyppolite II said. “Just watching fil, just knowing what plays come out of the formation. If they motion, what’s going to happen next? Just the small stuff like that and you can play fast. That’s all that it was with me was watching film and playing fast and just trusting myself honestly. Don’t second guess.”
Frazier’s journey to the NFL was a little different than most players. After redshirting with Southern Illinois his freshman year, Frazier played two seasons with Coffeyville Community College before transferring to Texas-San Antonio.
While going back to community college was an unusual move, Frazier said it gave him confidence.
“It helps confidence. It’s going to build your confidence there because if you can do it there, you can do it anywhere because you’re going against the best,” Frazier said. “It’s a stigma on that (that) everybody’s there for bad grades. That’s not true. Some people just want a chance to go bigger and sometimes that may be the case, bad grades, but it is life and things happen and that’s just another step. Juco is another step to get to your bigger goal and that’s what I took advantage of.”
Both of these picks have promising upside and should benefit Chicago’s defense. Furthermore, among the eight players Chicago selected in this draft, Hyppolite II and Frazier were two of the three defensive players chosen. The other defensive player the Bears selected was defensive lineman Shemar Turner in the second round.
