As the Miami Hurricanes prepare for the 2025 season, ESPN has identified safety Zechariah Poyser as Miami’s top under‑the‑radar player. Named the Hurricanes official “sleeper” in ESPN’s preseason top 25 preview, Poyser offers a promising solution to last year’s secondary struggles.
ESPN put together a list of who they believe will have the most impact after starting the season "under-the-radar". The list includes players coming off of injury, transfers and true freshman — Essentially, anybody who is a newcomer for a top 25 team.
"You may have heard of Poyser, one of the top available players in the transfer portal this past season. But he should still be considered a sleeper because of the impact he is projected to have in his first year with the Hurricanes. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound safety played his first two seasons at Jacksonville State, earning Freshman All-America honors as a redshirt freshman this past season with 75 tackles and three interceptions. His addition gives the Hurricanes an instant upgrade at safety, where they struggled at times last season. Miami made other additions at defensive back in the portal, but safety was the most glaring area of need and it appears to be filled"Andrea Adelson
Poyser, a redshirt freshman transfer from Jacksonville State, clocked an impressive stat line in 2024 with 75 combined tackles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries over 13 games. His performance earned Freshman All‑America recognition and a grade of 80.1 from Pro Football Focus, including 76.1 in run defense and 80.1 in coverage. At 6‑foot‑2 and 190 pounds, Poyser brings size, instincts, and ball skills which are qualities Miami notably lacked in 2024 when its secondary was frequently exploited.
Miami’s 2024 season was defined by the offensive led by QB Cam Ward, but losses often stemmed from breakdowns by the defense. The Hurricanes ranked among the ACC’s most vulnerable secondary units which was a glaring weakness in close games down the stretch. The addition of a productive, instinct-driven safety could give Miami what they need to take the next step in the ACC and make the CFP.