Miami Recruiting: Zaquan Patterson's Impact
There are 5-star recruits that make significant impacts to their college choices upon arriving at each respective school’s college campus, and then there are 5-star recruits that create dividends prior to showing up.
Meet recent Miami commitment Zaquan Patterson. He’s a rebel on the gridiron, and does so in a way that he’s also a pied piper.
From this point forward, this is my personal perspective on Patterson’s importance to the 2024 Miami recruiting class, but in a couple of ways one may not yet know. You soon will.
I believe Patterson’s impact to be unique after scouting him more times than I can remember, and that point is allowing me to learn Patterson’s impactful traits. To begin, Patterson’s personality needs to be defined.
Feisty, talkative (see video directly below with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith discussing Patterson and vice versa), confident, determined, and highly intelligent, Patterson embodies modern safety play.
Win a rep, great. Go to the next play. Lose a rep, let’s work on it. Go to the next play. Each of those scenarios gives credence to why Patterson’s intellect is different, as well as gains respect.
Yeah, he likes to talk smack. That’s a fact. Patterson also knows to take each rep as it comes. Maturity personified.
Look, defenders in general need to understand that modern spread offenses will hit big plays. Live with it and deal with it. If not, perish with it. Patterson gets that and just seemingly comes up with tremendous big plays at the most crucial times because of his mental makeup.
Yes, Patterson’s physical exploits are well known. I’m not here to discuss the obvious in detail today. It’s about his intelligence and personality that impacts the scoreboard, and other people.
Communication is one prime example. Patterson’s ability to talk with his teammates – and for them to respond to his words – is consistently evident. Whether it’s a practice or game for Chaminade-Madonna where he plays high school football, or when he’s performing for Defcon1 7v7, Patterson helps to set the defense from the backend.
Moving another defender to a better spot and openly barking out something about what the offense’s formation will likely bring would be two examples of how Patterson’s communication skills improve his squad’s chances of winning.
Not many high school safeties do that well. At the prep level, the number of players that fail to effectively communicate is actually high.
How often do you watch a high school, college or even a NFL game and it’s won or lost because of poor communication? And now, an additional and pivotal point about that communication, as well as respect, with Patterson.
Recruits throughout South Florida and beyond know Patterson; his decision to commit to Miami is a symbol of the Canes taking the next step as a program. Other prospects have and will recognize his college decision.
That not only includes class of 2024 prospects, but 2025 recruits and beyond. Great players want to play with other great players. Patterson's impact is going to continue to be felt.
That’s not to say that I am predicting a whirlwind of Miami commitments. No, but when push comes to shove, Patterson’s commitment does provide credence to why any given recruit should pick Miami.
To that point, here’s another perspective on Patterson from All Hurricanes own Alex Donno:
Overall, this Miami recruiting class holds some real talent. Patterson is one of, if not the best, of them all. It’s not just his physical abilities that make him a great prospect either. Keep an eye on this young man moving forward. Special football player, special young man.
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