Miami adds another elite Chaminade-Madonna recruit with commitment from Zaquan Patterson
The Miami Hurricanes’ pipeline from Chaminade-Madonna is alive and well after landing another elite commitment from the Hollywood powerhouse on Saturday afternoon.
Zaquan Patterson is the latest in a long line of Coral Gables-bound Lions, orally committed to the Hurricanes on during an ESPN interview at halftime of the Lions’ game against Maryland powerhouse St. Frances Academy on Saturday. Patterson commits less than two months after teammate Joshisa Trader did the same.
“I think I made the right decision and it’s the best opportunity for me,” Patterson told reporters moments after he committed. “I feel like I can make the biggest impact there and there’s no place like home.”
Just as it did with Trader, Miami beat out Florida State and Ohio State for Patterson. Michigan and Auburn were also in the top five for the elite safety.
“Jojo wanted to play with me all along and he talked to me every day about coming to Miami,” Patterson said. “But this was my decision.”
A four-star recruit, Patterson is the No. 78 player in the Class of 2024, the No. 4 safety in the country and the No. 11 prospect in the state and the No. 4 recruit in South Florida, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He was a first-team All-Broward County selection as a sophomore in 2021 and a second-team all-county selection as a junior last year, according to the Miami Herald.
Last season, Patterson logged 69 tackles, 1 1/2 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, seven passes defended, two interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown — and four blocked punts for the Class 1M champions. He blocked 12 kicks in the last two seasons.
At Chaminade-Madonna, Patterson has been a key defensive and special-teams player for one of the best programs in the country. He’s already a two-time state champion and the Lions began the season Saturday as the No. 7 team in the nation, according to MaxPreps.
With Patterson in the fold, the Hurricanes now hold commitments from two of the top three players from Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and three of the top five. It also positions them well to continue to make a run at the No. 1 player in Florida: Five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who plays with Trader and Patterson at Chaminade-Madonna, remains one of the Hurricanes’ top targets, even as he’s committed to the Buckeyes.
Patterson said he still planned to take visits to Auburn, Michigan and Florida State.
