Oklahoma State Makes Unexpected Change in Secondary

Oklahoma State safety Zaquan Patterson has been dismissed from the team, according to a report from On3’s Brett McMurphy.

Patterson, a transfer from Miami, joined the Cowboys earlier this offseason after spending his freshman year with the Hurricanes. A former four-star prospect out of Hollywood, Florida, Patterson was one of the highest-rated recruits in Miami’s 2024 signing class and was expected to compete for a role in the Oklahoma State secondary this fall.

Instead, his time in Stillwater has ended before he saw the field. At Miami, the Florida native posted some decent stats, including 19 total tackles and two pass breakups. His decision to transfer to Oklahoma State was viewed as a fresh opportunity in a defensive backfield that is set to undergo major changes in 2025.

The Cowboys have been looking to rebuild a unit that struggled at times last season, with new names expected to step up under head coach Mike Gundy. Patterson’s dismissal removes one of the more intriguing additions to that group and leaves questions about how OSU will manage depth in the defensive backfield moving forward.

With the 2025 season just around the corner, Oklahoma State will need quick answers. Losing a player with Patterson’s pedigree before he ever took the field is another hurdle for a team already preparing for one of the toughest schedules in the league.