Oklahoma State Lands 5-Star Safety Zaquan Patterson Out of the Transfer Portal
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State just landed seemingly its biggest addition out of the portal with talented transfer safety out of Miami (FL), Zaquan Patterson.
This is one for all the recruit-niks out there: he was the No. 19 player in the nation and the No. 5 player in the state of Florida according to Rivals. OK, he was all that in the 2024 recruiting cycle. Patterson went to Miami out of Chaminade-Madonna High School in Hollywood, Fla., and played in all 13 games last season for the Hurricanes, before going into the transfer portal this spring.
Now, he’s an Oklahoma State Cowboy.
Patterson was originally scheduled to visit Oklahoma State back in April but finally made his visit earlier this past week and on Thursday (May 8) notified Mike Gundy and Co. he was coming to Stillwater to join the Pokes.
Oklahoma State hasn’t actually put the papers through yet, and Patterson was planning on putting up a post to announce it himself. However, On3 and 247 had reported it. The news was out.
Talking to Patterson on the phone, he was happy to hear that it was big news.
Oklahoma State used a lot of connections as defensive coordinator Todd Grantham had connections in South Florida that helped, and defensive assistant Kevie Thompson had connections to Patterson’s 7-v-7 team he had played for.
Connections are always a huge part of recruiting. This should open Oklahoma State up to some new opportunities in South Florida. Combine those with Secondary recruiting analyst, Cam O’Neal, who has helped with players in the South as well, and Oklahoma State has done a lot in the secondary in the portal and in recruiting high school prospects.
Patterson at Miami, Fla. last season played in all 13 games as a true freshman. He finished with 19 tackles, 15 unassisted, and three passes defended. In the regular season his tackle high was three against Duke. He made his first and only start in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State and had five tackles.
The 6-0, 195-pound Patterson is a physical player that has elite speed and agility.
In high school at Chaminade-Madonna, he was selected for the Under Armour All-American Bowl. He was also named South Florida Sun-Sentinel Top 11 his senior season.
As a junior he had 69 tackles, seven passes defended and two interceptions. He also blocked four punts. He helped Chaminade into the Class 1M Florida Championships in 2021 and 2022. He also started as a sophomore and made first team All-Broward County with 61 tackles and three sacks.
Patterson chose Miami, Fla. in recruiting over Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Texas among others. Out of the portal, he Oklahoma State over offers from Florida, Mississippi, SMU and others.
Patterson is the seventh defensive transfer for the Cowboys in the spring portal window. There are 16 new Cowboys overall in the spring portal window.
- Banks Bowen, QB, Tulsa
- Freddie Brock, RB, Georgia State
- Cameron Abshire, WR, Emory and Henry University (Div. 2)
- Christian Fitzpatrick, WR, Marshall
- Terrill Davis, WR, Central Oklahoma (Div. 2)
- Carson Su’esu’e, TE, BYU
- Grayson Brousseau, TE, Utah State
- Markell Samuel, OT, Appalachian State
- Bob Schick, OL, Virginia Tech
- Grant Seagren, OL, Nebraska
- Wendell Gregory, Edge, South Carolina
- Taje McCoy, Edge, Colorado
- Da’Marion Thomas, DT, Vanderbilt
- Darius Thomas, LB, Louisville/Western Kentucky
- DeAndre Boykins, Saf., North Carolina
- Zaquan Patterson, Saf., Miami, Fla.
- Eric Fletcher, CB, East Carolina
