Nation's No. 1 recruit Zion Elee commits to Mike Locksley and Maryland's Class of 2026

By Maliha

Modified Dec 08, 2024 13:18 GMT

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Five-star edge rusher Zion Elee committed to Maryland on Saturday. The No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 class chose the Terrapins over Oregon, Miami, Penn State and Alabama, among others.

“I think Maryland is a great school,” Elee told On3. “What made me make the decision is the coaches. They’re really good people and I really connected with them on an outside level. I put everything aside and thought what do I actually want to do? I really thought about it and I wanted to stay home.”

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound prospect had been heavily recruited nationwide and took unofficial visits to Miami, Penn State, Florida and Texas A&M. However, his ties to Maryland and the program’s staff proved unbreakable.

"I could connect with the players because they're from the same area I'm from," Elee told On3. "The academics are strong. It's a great environment. I felt I could grow as a person and a player there."

Zion Elee’s commitment proves the strength of Maryland’s pipeline from local high schools, especially St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. Elee, who transferred to St. Frances ahead of his junior year, is now the third player from the program to join Maryland’s 2026 recruiting class, joining tight end Damon Hall Jr. and cornerback Khmari Bing.

Maryland’s 2026 recruiting class ranks 13th nationally and also features three-star defensive lineman Brian Harris from Mandarin High School in Florida.

Meanwhile, Elee’s choice proves a shift in Maryland’s recruiting power, as Mike Locksley continues to target top-tier local talent. The Terrapins' ability to secure Zion Elee is a big step in keeping elite athletes from Maryland close to home. Locksley’s effort was also proved in the 2025 class, as all blue-chip recruits in the Terrapins that cycle hailed from Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C.

Zion Elee opens up about his potential position in Maryland

Zion Elee’s decision to commit to Maryland is a big win for a program looking to rebuild after a challenging 4-8 season, including a dismal 1-8 record in Big Ten play. He is now the highest-ranked recruit in the school's history, surpassing Stefon Diggs’ ranking from 2012.

Elee opened up about his fit in Maryland's defense, saying (via 247Sports):

"I like the position I am going to be playing. I am going to be a standing edge, the JACK position, but I am going to be done on the line most of the time. Their defense is pretty similar to the defense we run at St. Frances, so it shouldn't be a big deal adjusting to it."

Zion Elee has drawn comparisons to former NFL standout John Abraham. On3 cited his skill set as reminiscent of Abraham’s due to his ability to rush the passer effectively from both two-point and three-point stances. Elee is the No. 1 edge rusher in the 2026 class and also the No. 1 recruit in Maryland, according to On3.