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CORAL GABLES — Sometimes it is best to temper excitement when a highly touted freshman arrives on campus. College football is a world apart from high school football, and it takes time for most players to adjust.
On the other hand, Miami defensive back Meesh Powell said full steam ahead for the Zaquan Patterson hype train.
“I tell him every day, that’s a freshman All-American,” Powell said. “I tell him every day he’s going to be one of the greatest safeties to ever come out of Miami.
“He’s going to have his name up here,” Powell added, referring to the banners in the UM indoor practice facility with the names of Miami All-Americans.
Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry pumped the breaks a little on Tuesday, but he agrees that Patterson will be an immediate contributor.
“That’s big words right there now,” Guidry said. “I think he can be a really good football player. We’ll see how he goes throughout camp and training, getting ready for Florida.”
Guidry did say the former Chaminade-Madonna star will get some reps as the Hurricanes search for a second starting safety to team with Powell and replace departed NFL safeties Kam Kinchens and James Williams.
“How many snaps he gets on defense, I don’t know, but he’ll play,” Guidry said. “We’re not going to spare him, of course. But he has a chance to be a really good one. I do believe that. We’ll just see how he progresses.”
Patterson was a star on Lions teams that rolled to multiple state titles. Last season, he had 47 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and six interceptions.
“He’s super talented, super smart,” Powell said. “He’s a great tackler; that’s something we need at safety. Then he can cover. At the safety position, being able to do all those things and just being so intelligent on the field right now — he’s…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/hurricanes-safety-zaquan-patterson-could-183100899.html
Author : South Florida Sun Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-08-06 18:31:00
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