Davidson football plucked a prolific passer out of the transfer portal this week, another signal that the Wildcats’ offense under new coach Saj Thakkar is going to look a lot different than his predecessor’s.
Holy Cross transfer quarterback Austen Frattura from Sparta, N.J. announced his commitment to the Wildcats on Wednesday evening, entering the portal after spring ball. Frattura (6-2, 215) did not appear in any games for the Crusaders in 2023 or 2024 but lit up the stat sheets during his time at Sparta High School from 2019-2022.
Frattura was a four-year starter for coach Frank Marchiano at Sparta, earning all-state honors three times and twice being named conference player of the year. He finished his prep career with 8,256 yards through the air and 74 passing touchdowns. He rushed for nearly 1,000 more yards and scored 13 touchdowns on the ground.
With Frattura under center, Sparta reached the state championship game in 2021 and made the state semis in both 2019 and 2022.
Frattura will be a rising junior this season at Davidson.
Transfer QB from Holy Cross, a school that wears purple. Worked out well the last time @DavidsonFB did this, right @Louis_Colosimo? https://t.co/Ncq54PwwPT — Paul Roper (@Paul_Roper) May 22, 2025
During his high school recruiting, Frattura held offers from FBS schools, including Pitt, Maryland and Temple.
During Scott Abell’s seven-year run as head coach, Davidson relied on a punishing ground game, often leading all of FCS in rushing yards per game. While the ‘Cats top two rushers from 2024 return – rising seniors Mari Adams (Shelby | Crest HS) and Mason Sheron (Leo, Ind. | Leo HS) – fans may have to adjust to seeing the ball in the air a lot more.
Frattura will join what is already an experienced and deep quarterback room at Davidson.
Rising senior Coulter Cleland (Racine, OH | Meigs HS) and rising junior Andrew Frazier (New Bern | Havelock HS) have starting experience. Cleland played in 10 games in 2023, tossing 17 TDs. Frazier emerged as a dual-threat last season, throwing for 557 yards and five TDs, while rushing for another 372 yards and four scores.
Rising sophomore Casey Bullock (Medina, OH | St. Edward HS) played in one game last season. Lane Albright from Mount Tabor High in Winston-Salem signed with Davidson as part of the Wildcats’ 2025 high school class.
Frattura has a younger sister, Isabella Frattura, who is an All-American high school javelin thrower. She has committed to Liberty’s track and field program for 2025.
