LOOK: Maryland football hosting 5-star commit Zion Elee along with professional athlete
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Maryland's coveted five-star 2026 commit Zion Elee is back on campus on Wednesday to see the Terrapins' basketball team take on Wisconsin on Wednesday night. He wasn't alone, either. Five-star offensive lineman Immanuel Iheanacho also announced he was going to be visiting Maryland on Wednesday -- he is the No. 2 overall player by the Composite.
Once the game started, it was clear Maryland was pulling out all the stops to keep Elee committed to it in '26. Elee was spotted in the crowd with head coach Mike Locksley and professional tennis player Francis Tiafoe. The professional tennis player has won three career titles and he hails out of Hyattsville, Maryland and it would appear he is also recruiting Elee to stay with the Terps.
Maryland football head coach Mike Locksley and five-star commit Zion Elee — along with Francis Tiafoe — at the men’s basketball game tonight. pic.twitter.com/r5DYnLqL1A
— Colin McNamara (@Colinmcnamara05) January 30, 2025
Elee, who has confirmed he is committed to Maryland, has kept an eye open for other programs. He has taken a visit to Auburn and has talked and seen James Franklin at Penn State. The St. Frances Academy prospect is the No. 5 overall player in the 2026 cycle, per the Composite. Being that talented, plenty of schools are going to try and negatively recruit the Terrapins -- especially coming off of a 4-8 season. But Locksley could really change the program in a positive way if he can keep Elee committed and sign him on National Signing Day.
Here is 247Sports' scouting report on Elee:
One of the more complete edge prospects in recent memory at this stage of the evaluation process ahead of his junior season. It feels as if he was built in a lab to get after the quarterback, verified hovering around 6-foot-4, 220 pounds with elite length measurements and a combine testing profile that could be mistaken for a field-stretching X receiver. Verified athletic markers are good enough to compare favorably against Top247 caliber senior edge rushers from the past two recruiting cycles. Outside of the athletic traits, has a natural feel for the position that allowed him to rack up 13 sacks in only nine games, even though his bag of pass-rushing moves isn't deep at this stage of his development. Building blocks of his game are his lightning-quick first step, closing burst, and ideal reactionary athleticism. Laterally explosive and can quickly move gap-to-gap or chase down ball carriers from the weak side. Motor consistently runs hot, and there might not be a better edge rusher in the 2026 cycle at quickly redirecting to wrap up evasive quarterbacks. Currently works as more of a new-age speed rusher who can occasionally work speed to power, but owns the frame to put on weight and develop into a complete product while retaining the tools that make him unique. Will face a step up in competition as a junior after transferring from MPSSAA 1A program Joppatowne to Baltimore prospect factory St. Frances Academy. Should be viewed as a potential instant impact 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level who could eventually put on a show at the NFL Combine.
Maryland football commit 5-star EDGE Zion Elee is in the Xfinity Center. He’s the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 On300 recruiting rankings. The future of Maryland football. pic.twitter.com/KTSc2P502W
— Ricky Podgorski (@R_Pods) January 30, 2025
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