ESPN Highlights Underrated Transfer as Key Piece for Miami Hurricanes in 2025

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jay Canale | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 2:51 PM ET

The Miami Hurricanes have a deep and talented roster heading into 2025, featuring notable players like Carson Beck, Francis Mauigoa, Reuben Bain Jr., and others. These are the names catching the most attention for next season, but ESPN’s recent article highlighting a sleeper pick for each top 25 team put the spotlight on one of the Hurricanes' key transfer portal additions: safety Zechariah Poyser.

Poyser, who transferred to Miami from Jacksonville State, is an essential addition to a Hurricanes secondary that needed a serious boost in talent after last season. Three other high-profile defensive backs also transferred to Miami this offseason, but ESPN noted that their reason for choosing Poyser was because “safety was the most glaring area of need.”

While Miami’s transfer portal haul this offseason was excellent across the board, Poyser might be their most crucial addition. The 6’2”, 190-pound safety out of Wildwood, FL, committed to the Hurricanes over Georgia, Florida, LSU, and Auburn. 247Sports ranked Poyser as a four-star portal prospect and their second-best safety available.

Miami’s secondary was arguably their weakest link in 2024, and Poyser will help protect them on the back end with his elite length, speed, and ball skills. His tackling chops are also a plus, recording 75 tackles and three tackles for loss in 2024.

Poyser has been a relatively unheralded player for much of his short career, coming out of high school as an unranked recruit according to 247Sports. He redshirted his true freshman season at Jacksonville State but broke out in his second year, earning Freshman All-American honors for his 2024 performance. This outstanding season made Poyser one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal, as reflected by the list of teams interested in him.

Poyser began his college career under the radar, and ESPN is now giving him that same label again. However, if he has the breakout season many are hoping for, his time going unnoticed will quickly come to an end.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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