 Frederick with theDallas Cowboys in 2016 | |||||||
| No. 72 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Center | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | (1991-03-18)March 18, 1991 (age 34) Sharon, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||
| Listed weight | 320 lb (145 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Big Foot (Walworth, Wisconsin) | ||||||
| College | Wisconsin (2009–2012) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 2013: 1st round, 31st overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Travis Frederick (born March 18, 1991) is an American former professionalfootball player who spent his entire seven-year career as acenter for theDallas Cowboys of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theWisconsin Badgers and was selected 31st overall by the Cowboys in the first round of the2013 NFL draft. In his time as a Cowboy he was elected to fivePro Bowls and he was anAll-Pro in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Frederick is now the co-founder &chief operating officer of thetabletop role-playing game companyDemiplane.
A native ofSharon, Wisconsin, Frederick attendedBig Foot High School inWalworth, Wisconsin, where he was an all-state two-way lineman. He helped hishigh school team to second place in the 2008WIAA Division 4 state playoffs.[1]
Frederick was also on Big Foot's track team. He finished second in theshot put at the 2008 'BDN' Invite, with a throw of 15.23 meters (50 ft 0 in). He took silver in thediscus throw at the 2008 WIAA Sectional Championships, with a throw of 49.30 meters (161 ft 9 in).[2]
Regarded as a three-star recruit byRivals.com, Frederick was ranked as the No. 83offensive tackle prospect in his class.[3]
Frederick attended theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison, and played for theWisconsin Badgers football team from 2009 to 2012. After graduating high school early to participate in spring practice, Frederick became the firsttrue freshman in Badgers history to start a season-opening game on the offensive line, when he lined up atcenter againstNorthern Illinois. An ankle injury in week 2 knocked him out of the starting lineup, but he returned for the final two games, atleft guard, after centerPeter Konz was sidelined (blood clots) andJohn Moffitt was moved to center. For the season, he played in five games, starting four (two at center and two at left guard).
In order to preserve a year of Frederick'sNCAA eligibility, Wisconsin coaching staff decided toredshirt him in 2010.[4] In his redshirt sophomore season, Frederick replaced John Moffitt, starting 11 of 13 games at left guard. For two games, he had to substitute for Peter Konz at center.
Following Konz's departure for the2012 NFL draft, Frederick was moved to center his junior season. He started all 13 games at center and was named a first-teamAll-American byPro Football Weekly.[5]
Considered the best center in his class byMel Kiper Jr. ofESPN, Frederick decided to enter the2013 NFL draft as an underclassman.[6] He was projected to be a second- to third-round selection.
At theNFL Combine, Frederick ran a 5.58 in the40-yard dash, second-slowest among offensive lineman.[7] He also posted a below-average 21 repetitions in the 225 lbbench press.[8][9]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft3+5⁄8 in (1.92 m) | 312 lb (142 kg) | 33 in (0.84 m) | 10 in (0.25 m) | 5.58 s | 1.91 s | 3.20 s | 4.76 s | 7.81 s | 28+1⁄2 in (0.72 m) | 8 ft 1 in (2.46 m) | 21 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[10][11] | ||||||||||||
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In the2013 NFL draft, theDallas Cowboys traded down in the first round with theSan Francisco 49ers in exchange for a third-round pick (used to draftTerrance Williams). In the first round, the team selected Frederick after eight offensive linemen were drafted before him.[12] This decision caused a stir in the media because it was not only seen as a reach, but the trade was also criticized for bringing poor compensation after moving down 13 positions.[13]
Frederick was named a starter from the first day of Organized Team Activities in the preseason, replacingPhil Costa, who had been the starter in the previous two years. He became the first rookie in franchise history to start every game atcenter and was selected to theNFL All-Rookie team.[14][15]
The next year, he continued his development, by anchoring what was arguably considered as the bestoffensive line in the league and was also named to his firstPro Bowl.
In2015, he had to work with four different starting quarterbacks with varying degrees of knowledge of the team's offense, which required him to make more protection calls. He was named to his secondPro Bowl.[16]
On August 13, 2016, Frederick signed a six-year, $56.4 million contract extension with the Cowboys, making him the highest-paid center in the league.[17]
Before the start of the2016 season, Frederick was named one of the five team captains.[18] That year, Frederick helped pave the way for rookie running backEzekiel Elliott to the NFL rushing yards leader and his first Pro Bowl while protecting rookie quarterbackDak Prescott to his first Pro Bowl as well. He was named to his third straightPro Bowl and was named First-teamAll-Pro, both honors being shared with fellow Cowboy offensive linemenTyron Smith andZack Martin.[19] He was also ranked 87th on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2017 as the only center in the list.[20]
On December 19, 2017, Frederick was named to his fourth straight Pro Bowl alongside tackle Tyron Smith and guard Zack Martin for the second straight year.[21]
On September 3, 2018, Frederick was placed on injured reserve to start the 2018 season after being diagnosed withGuillain–Barré syndrome on August 22.[22] He was inactive for the first four games before being placed on the reserve/non-football illness list on October 6, 2018.[23]
Frederick was named to his fifthPro Bowl in 2019.
On March 23, 2020, Frederick announced his retirement from professional football.[24][25]
Frederick, with Peter Romenesko, co-foundedDemiplane in 2019. Demiplane acts as a digital platform for varioustabletop role-playing game tools such as game hosting and matchmaking along with digital compendiums for licensed games; the platform launched in 2020.[26][27] Frederick is the company'schief operating officer.[28] On the change of direction in his career, Frederick said, "I really enjoy the challenge of something new".[29] In June 2024, Demiplane was acquired by thevirtual tabletop companyRoll20.[30]
Frederick double majored in computer engineering and computer science at the University of Wisconsin.[31]
On August 22, 2018, Frederick was diagnosed withGuillain–Barré syndrome.[32][33][34]
Frederick has two brothers, Tyler and Collin.
