On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: Miami extends lead for 4-star S Zaquan Patterson

Miami Gardens (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep four-star safety Zaquan Patterson released his top 10 schools on New Year’s Day. One of the programs to make the cut was Miami.

The Hurricanes now have a 90.9% chance to land Patterson, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Stephen Wagner of CaneSport placed an expert prediction for Patterson to end up at Miami this morning.

“Patterson made his interest in Miami clear after telling CaneSport that Coral Gables ‘feels like home’ and emphasizing his enthusiasm about new defensive coordinator Lance Guidry,” Wagner said. “He said he’s never felt uncomfortable in Coral Gables and has previously said Miami was ‘in the lead as much as being in my top five,’ and he’ll ‘definitely’ take an official visit to Miami this summer.”

Patterson is the No. 78 overall prospect and No. 6 safety in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 11 player in Florida.

The 6-foot-0.5, 185-pound defensive back last visited the Hurricanes on March 23. In addition to Miami, Ohio State, Tennessee, Michigan, Alabama and Georgia are some of the other schools involved in his recruitment.

However, it is clear that head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff have made a positive impression on the four-star.

“They’re local and the coaching staff, I’m familiar with them,” Patterson told On3’s Chad Simmons on Jan. 24. “I’m close with a lot of them on the coaching staff. I’ve known coach (DeMarcus) Van Dyke since I was nine years old.”

For more Miami recruiting intel, check out CaneSport.

Patterson is one of the high-priority recruits for Miami

Landing Patterson would be a massive boost for Miami’s 2024 recruiting class. The Hurricanes currently have only one pledge from Shreveport (La.) C.E. Byrd kicker Abram Murray.

He would also likely help Miami’s recruiting efforts at his high school. Two of Patterson’s teammates at Chaminade-Madonna Prep are Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and four-star wide receiver Joshisa Trader.

Smith is committed to Ohio State, while the RPM gives Miami a 92.3% chance to land Trader, the No. 23 overall prospect and No. 6 wide receiver in the On3 Industry Ranking. Meanwhile, Smith is the No. 2 overall prospect and No. 1 wide receiver in the On3 Industry Ranking.

“It was a great visit,” Trader told Wagner about his March 23 trip to Coral Gables. “Great practice, they had a lot of energy, intensity and stuff like that. I got to see coach Beard in action coaching the receivers, so it was a great time.”

Trader and Smith are just two of the blue-chip targets being recruited by Cristobal and Co. The Hurricanes made the top seven of Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes four-star quarterback Air Noland, who is committing on April 8.