4-star safety Zaquan Patterson commits to Miami: "I want to bring a championship back to the city"

Zaquan Patterson had a lot on his mind the last few days. While preparing to play against a powerful St. Frances Academy out of Baltimore on ESPN to open up his senior season, the four-star safety out of Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna was trying to make his college decision.

He was down to five schools heading into decision week, but Auburn and Ohio State were on the outside looking in. As Patterson closed in on his decision, he was focused on Florida State, Miami and Michigan.

Florida State had a lot of buzz around it early in the week, but Patterson went back and forth between the Hurricanes and Wolverines in the final hours. The No. 80 prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings decided to stay home and play for Mario Cristobal.

“It was a hectic week and a hectic last few days, but I knew it when I said I wanted to go to Miami out loud that the feeling I had was different,” Patterson told On3. “I had thought it. But when I said it out loud, the feelings and the emotions I had were different. I knew then, on Friday, that I was going to Miami.”

Patterson said he could have seen himself at each school on his list. He took multiple visits over the summer and at different times, different schools sat atop his list. Miami is a school he has always been able to see himself at and he feels good about committing to the school in his backyard.

“It means a lot to stay home and go to Miami. It would mean a lot to me to be part of the change at Miami, but it would mean even more to the city. The people want it. I want to be part of the team that brings it back. The city helped make Miami and now I want to be part of giving greatness back to them. I want to bring a championship back to the city.”

Patterson believes Cristobal can get Miami back to the top

The leader of the program in Coral Gables was part of Miami when it was winning at a high level. Cristobal is a national championship. He had great success at Miami as a player and Patterson believes that he will have it again as a coach.

“Coach Cristobal understands it,” Patterson said. “He knows what it takes to win it all. He did it himself and he has a plan to bring the program back to that level. Coach Cristobal brings the energy and leadership. He and the coaches are recruiting to get Miami back and the program is going up.

“I really like the direction the program is going in. I like the culture Coach Cristobal is creating and I want to be part of the change for Miami. Like Coach Cristobal, I want to bring greatness back to the city. That is my goal.”

Miami made Patterson feel like a priority

Michigan did a great job recruiting Patterson. And the Wolverines may receive an official visit in the coming months. Florida State was consistent as well and Auhburn came on strong. But no program recruited Patterson to the level that Miami did. And it paid off.

“From the beginning, Miami made me feel like a priority,” Patterson said. “That had an impact on me. The coaches at Miami recruited me harder than any other program. For a school like Miami to push for me so hard for so long, that shows what I mean to them.”

Miami now will have to hold on to Patterson. He has not taken any official visits yet. Miami will get one. He could take others.

“I am not sure how it will work out yet. I know Miami is where I want to be and I want to do something big for the city, but I have always planned to take at least a few official visits. Nothing is set yet. We will see.”