Blame not our favorite Floridian since Derek Harper (sorry, Chainsaw), but the special concession made by the NCAA in the face of the pandemic. Because the 2020 postseason was wiped out and the 2020-21 season saw several teams lose games due to COVID, college players this season will be given the option to play a 5th season. Diehard fans know that's not terribly uncommon; players are given five years to play four seasons. The difference here is players can compete in a 5th full season, without having a redshirt year along the way.
Thus the dilemma for Frazier and classmate DaMonte Williams (who, at the time of this posting, has not announced if he will return for an extra season in orange and blue). Both are full four-year lettermen who get an extra year of action if they want it. A free scholarship that doesn't count against the team's allotment of 13, an exemption which could make this Illini squad one of the deepest ever.