One of the top safeties in the portal just wrapped up a crucial visit and left with high praise. Well, he called the coaching staff humble and tight-knit—exactly the kind of family vibe he was looking for. And after checking out several top programs, he lined up two more visits to close out the week. Ranked as a top-5 safety nationally, he planned to make his decision early the following week. Fast forward—he made that decision. And now, the 190-pound Miami star has landed on a national watchlist, with insiders delivering bold predictions for Mario Cristobal’s rising Hurricanes.

On April 7th, On3 Recruits dropped a YouTube clip that had Miami fans buzzing. However, the spotlight? A bold insider take on top safety Zechariah Poyser, and the verdict was clear, stating, “I don’t know how much Jacksonville State you watched last year, but they had a defensive back by the name of Zechariah Poyser roaming around the secondary, and he was named a Freshman All-American after a stellar 2024 season with the Gamecocks. And the Miami Hurricanes went ahead and scooped him up out of the portal this year.” Safe to say—The U landed a game-changer.

But the insider wasn’t done hyping up the newest Miami addition. And he doubled down with even more praise for Poyser, making it clear this kid is the real deal, saying, “And let me be the first to tell you, Josh, that this kid is a ball player. Ended up with 75 tackles last year, three interceptions, eight tackles for loss, and a ridiculous 11 pass breakups. As a safety, this guy has the range center field. It’s influent to play man coverage and the trigger to come downhill and make plays around the line of scrimmage.” Safe to say—this isn’t just a portal pickup, it’s a statement move for the Canes.

Following that, the insider made a bold prediction about the Canes’ newest star, saying, “Zechariah Poiser is a name Cane’s fans will be hearing a lot over the loudspeaker in 2025.” And Poyser? He’s all in. Here, the former Jacksonville State standout spoke about why Miami was the move—not just a dream, but a decision from the heart.

“It always has been a dream, but that’s not the reason why I came. Coach Cristobal is a family guy. I have a daughter. I have a 1-year-old daughter and [Cristobal] is like a father figure to me, you know? And I saw that in him. I felt like home. He made me feel like [I was] home in our discussion. That’s why I chose Miami. It was like a family environment,” said the standout safety. Honestly, this wasn’t just a transfer—it was a homecoming.

You know, Zechariah Poyser is already soaking it all in with Miami’s revamped secondary. As of now, with new coaches and fresh faces, the chemistry is building fast. “We’re all asking questions, learning together… it’s been great,” shared Poyser. But what about his playing style? Simple—”Hard edge… I’m a competitor. I’m going to fly around to the ball,” said the star safety.

While Miami landed a star in Zechariah Poyser, they doubled down—adding a DB assistant who’s already coached him.

Miami scores a recruiting win

Miami just made a savvy move on the defensive side. According to multiple reports, the Hurricanes have hired Terry Jefferson as a defensive assistant. Jefferson was the cornerbacks coach at Jacksonville State, where he spent 2 seasons under Rich Rodriguez. The most intriguing fact is that he also coached Zechariah Poyser during that time—Miami’s latest transfer gem at safety—bringing a familiar face to the new-look secondary.

However, after spending time behind the scenes in recruiting and football ops, Jefferson returned to Miami in 2022 to coach up the DBs. And he made an impact fast. Under his watch, Jacksonville State standouts Jeremiah Harris and Derek Carter earned All-Conference USA second-team honors. As of now, Jefferson’s return brought results—and he’s back in Miami colors, ready to elevate the ‘Canes secondary.

Let’s be real; with the dynamic duo of Zechariah Poyser and Terry Jefferson reunited in Miami, all eyes are on the Hurricanes’ defense in 2025. Chemistry? Already built. And trust? Locked in. On top of that, Jefferson knows how to get the best out of Poyser—and together, they could spark something special. Right now, it’s time to see if this pairing can bring the heat back to The U.