Patterson Commits to UB

Kendall Patterson, a 6-foot-2, 272-pound defensive tackle from DeMatha high school in Maryland, has given UB a verbal commitment. The Three star recruit is UB's 5th defensive lineman joining Pat Williams, Joe Felicia, Brandon Tammaro, and JUCO transfer Wyatt Cahill.

I saw him as a long shot given the other offers he had on the table. Offers from the likes of South Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan State, NC State, and Ohio. But if there is one thing the past 12 months have taught us about Jeff Quinn it's that he can flat out recruit. This is the 18th verbal so far this season and the number of players passing up BCS school offers.

Patterson told Rivals that he committed while he and Coach Quinn watched the Sugar Bowl:

"Coach Quinn is at my house right now (last night) and I just told him I'm coming to Buffalo. We had dinner and then we were watching the Sugar Bowl game, and at halftime I told him I was committing. He was so excited he didn't know what to say. He didn't expect that tonight. But it just felt right, and I can't wait to play."

ESPN Says the Following of Patterson:

Patterson is a kid who appears capable of being able to present a physical and stout presence in the trenches. He appears to have good size and is one of the few kids who actually look's a little bigger then listed on film. He displays the ability to be tough versus the run. Displays a solid get-off. He is physical at the point of attack. Displays good strength to be able to take on a block and hold his ground. You would like to see him create a little better separation, but he brings his hands and displays good upper-body strength to be able to control and disengage from blockers. He is not easy to move off the ball, but he does need to watch his pad level. He can pop up out of his stance and appear to be the high hat on the line and you would like to see him stay lower and utilize more leverage. Really seems best as a run defender between the tackles, but will give effort to pursue to the ball on the perimeter. Comes across as a solid tackler. As a pass rusher he needs to be sure to not attack the whole man and be active with his weapons. Displays the strength to be able to bull rush his way back, but needs to be lower. Patterson is a physical kid. He needs to keep developing aspect of his game, but could be a tough run defender.