30 key Miami Hurricanes for 2025 season: Zechariah Poyser missing piece in secondary
The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 31 with a marquee matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., ABC).
With the calendar officially flipped to August, the Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes’ roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal’s fourth season.
Today: The No. 7 player on our list, Zechariah Poyser
What to know
Position: Safety
Hometown: Wildwood, Florida
Year: Redshirt sophomore
How he got to Miami: 2025 transfer (Jacksonville State)
Key stats: 75 tackles, three interceptions, 11 defended passes and two fumble recoveries in 13 games Jacksonville State
In summary: Zechariah Poyser showed last season at Jacksonville State that he can be a playmaker. He was a Freshman All-American for the Gamecocks in his first full season of college football. Now he needs to show that he can handle an uptick in competition level moving from Conference-USA to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Miami is going with a completely brand new safety group after Mishael Powell went to the NFL Draft and Jaden Harris and Zaquan Patterson transferred out. Poyser is poised to be one of the starters, with Tennessee transfer Jakobe Thomas likely the second. A group of Dylan Day, Bryce Fitzgerald, Isaiah Taylor and Markeith Williams is competing to be part of the rotation.
What they’re saying
“I’m the type of dude that I think God programmed me to be like a robot. I’m a day-by-day type of dude. Every day, I’ve been getting 1% better and ultimately I’ll be the best version of myself ... I’m gonna fly around the ball. I’m competitive. I don’t quit on plays.” - Zechariah Poyser on what he brings to the field
“He’s just really came in and is just understanding the defense. We’re moving him around at free safety and strong safety. He’s a very smart young man. I think that’s the biggest thing for him is just understanding both safety positions. But he’s doing a great job.” - Safeties coach Will Harris on Zechariah Poyser
“We found ourselves a real one. ZP is just made of the right stuff, raised the right way. He is mature, smart, really, really physical.” - Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal on Zechariah Poyser
The rest of the series
No. 8: Linebacker Mohamed Toure
No. 9: Running back Mark Fletcher Jr.
No. 10: Tight end Elija Lofton
No. 11: Defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor
No. 12: Wide receiver Joshisa Trader
No. 13: Offensive lineman Markel Bell
No. 14: Defensive back Xavier Lucas
No. 15: Defensive lineman Justin Scott
No. 16: Wide receiver CJ Daniels
No. 17: Defensive lineman David Blay
No. 18: Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten
No. 19: Center James Brockermeyer
No. 20: Wide receiver Keelan Marion
No. 21: Defensive back Jakobe Thomas
No. 23: Defensive back Keionte Scott
No. 24: Running back Jordan Lyle
No. 25: Defensive back Damari Brown
No. 26: Defensive lineman Armondo Blount
No. 27: Wide receiver Malachi Toney
No. 28: Defensive back Ethan O’Connor
No. 29: Linebacker Kamal Bonner
No. 30: Running back CharMar Brown
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