Miami continues pushing deep into future recruiting classes, with 2029 defensive lineman ZayQuan Dozier joining the Hurricanes’ expanding list of young targets.
Dozier plays for Taylor County in Butler, Georgia, and already carries one of the strongest profiles in the 2029 class. Rivals lists the 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive lineman among the premier prospects in his cycle.
His freshman production explains the early attention.
Dozier collected 76 tackles, five sacks and seven quarterback hurries during the 2025 season, earning a spot on the MaxPreps Freshman All-America Team.
That combination of size and production has attracted major programs well before Dozier reaches the midpoint of his high school career. Georgia, Florida State, Georgia Tech, FIU and Tennessee have already entered the picture, among others. Tennessee extended an offer in August, while Rivals ranked Dozier No. 6 nationally and first among defensive linemen at the time of that offer.
Miami’s interest fits Mario Cristobal’s recruiting philosophy.
Cristobal and his staff consistently prioritize size along the line of scrimmage, and Dozier already brings college-level dimensions despite his 2029 classification. His frame should allow considerable physical development during his remaining high school seasons.
Dozier also competes in track and field. He recorded a 46-foot, 11-inch shot put mark during the 2026 outdoor season, another indicator of the power that translates to defensive line play.
Recruitments this early rarely develop along predictable paths. Dozier still has three full high school seasons ahead of him, and his offer sheet should continue growing.
That timeline makes relationship building critical.
Miami doesn’t need an immediate decision. The Hurricanes need continued communication, campus visits and a strong connection with Dozier and those around him. Entering the recruitment now gives Miami time to accomplish that.
Georgia programs could create significant competition for a prospect who plays less than two hours from Atlanta, while Florida State already holds an early place on his offer sheet.
Miami nevertheless now has an opportunity to remain involved with one of the 2029 cycle’s premier interior prospects.
For a program that places heavy emphasis on winning along the line of scrimmage, Dozier represents exactly the type of long-range target worth pursuing early.
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