Note: The following appears in the Florida State football gameday program.
As a prospect in the state of North Carolina, Zaire Patterson drew a lot of attention. The No. 7 rated player received many top offers early in 2020, with teams like Alabama, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Texas A&M all throwing out offers for the defensive lineman. But the offer from Clemson stood out, and Patterson committed later that spring.
“I chose to go to Clemson because I started playing football in 10th grade, and I knew that Clemson was a developmental program. I thought that coming to Clemson would be the best fit for me.”
A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Patterson found himself on the Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy football team in 2018 as a sophomore. His entrance to the sport sparked something great, as he only got better and more spirited for the game. He ended his high school career with 181 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, 25 sacks and 10 caused fumbles in 21 games, all combining into an impressive resumé for a college program searching for their next defensive standout.
With an impressive background and history, Clemson is a top target for players to mark down on their recruiting board as they search for the place they will start their college football career. The figure who had the biggest influence on Patterson was Head Coach Dabo Swinney.
“Who Coach Swinney portrays to be is who he really is. He is a great man, and I wouldn’t want to be coached by anyone else.”
Patterson followed his commitment by enrolling with the Tigers and beginning his journey, which started with his debut against UConn in 2021 while redshirting. It would not be until the 2023 season when he returned to game action. In 2023 and 2024, he combined for 40 snaps while causing his first fumble against Florida Atlantic.
As a mentor for the younger players, #91 has had the impact of teaching them the team’s defensive structure by using his own experience with Clemson. Players like Champ Thompson, Hevin Brown-Shuler, Amare Adams and Aidan Hydrick, among others, are freshmen who, with the help of Patterson and the rest of the veterans, are improving and growing into their full potential.
“I’ve met a lot of people who are probably going to be my family forever now. When I first came in, all of the guys taught me a lot, and it’s great being able to give back to our younger group and teach them things and help them through experiences.”
Not only has he impacted the younger players on the team, he has built flourishing relationships with fellow veterans. DeMonte Capehart and Peter Woods, who have started most games on the defensive line, are just a few who have become family to him.
“It has been amazing. Peter, DeMonte and I…we hang out all of the time. Watching them evolve from the players who they were to the players they are now, I can’t help but be proud and excited for them.”
Despite some early setbacks, Patterson believes the 2025 squad is just as passionate and strong as any other and they have the talent to keep themselves in the game and involved as a top program.
“This team loves each other. I think this team loves each other moreso than our past teams. We’re all one big family and we don’t see each other as offense or defense. We see each other as a team, and we’re going to continue to keep fighting with each other until the end of the season.”
