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Oklahoma State safety Zaquan Patterson, a transfer from Miami, dismissed from team

pBCHVlJX_400x400by: Brett McMurphy08/19/25Brett_McMurphy
miami-safety-zaquan-patterson-commits-to-ole-miss
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Oklahoma State sophomore safety Zaquan Patterson, a highly touted transfer from Miami, has been dismissed from the Cowboys program, sources told On3.

Patterson, who was expected to provide depth to a Cowboys defense that returns six starters, played in 12 games for the Hurricanes as a true freshman in 2024. He finished the year with 19 total tackles (15 solo) and three pass breakups. Patterson earned one start for the Hurricanes in the Pop-Tart Bowl agains Iowa State.

He entered the transfer portal during the spring window on April 25.

“It just was not the right place, right time,” Patterson said at the time of leaving Miami. “It has nothing to do with the program. Mario Cristobal and everyone in that facility are great people.

“I want to thank all the Canes fans as well. They’ve been a big part of my support. They made me feel at home. From the day I committed to now, they all showed major love.”

Patterson strongly considered Florida and Ole Miss when he was in the transfer portal. He ultimately committed to Oklahoma State on May 8 though.

The Cowboys took 49 players out of the transfer portal in total this offseason. Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy admitted this was the first year the Cowboys used NIL to lure players out of the transfer portal.

“This portal class from January is the first class that we ever bought,” Gundy said on Andy and Ari On3. “We had not bought portal kids. That hurt us the last year or so from a depth standpoint.”

“That’s not the administration’s fault, not the donors’ fault. That was really kind of my fault,” he said. “What I had done was taken money that had been raised through donations and spread it amongst the troops somewhat evenly to the current players. We didn’t go out and solicit players and pay them to come to our team.”

As a member of the 2024 recruiting class, Patterson was a standout for Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna and was ranked Nation’s No. 92 overall recruit and the No. 6 safety according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.  Out of high school, Patterson, a four-star, signed with Miami over Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Texas.