By Michael Howes and Sam Jane
Top class of 2026 recruit and Baltimore native Zion Elee didn’t include Maryland football in his top five potential schools four months ago. The five-star changed his mind Saturday.
The No. 13 recruit in the country, according to 247Sports’s composite ranking, verbally committed to the Terps, first reported by On3’s Hayes Fawcett. If Elee doesn’t decommit, he will be the the top recruit in the program’s history.
Elee chose the Terps over Oregon, Alabama and Penn State, a massive commitment for coach Michael Locksley.
The 6-foot-4 edge has superb athleticism and bend, which skyrocketed him in 247’s prospect rankings. Elee recorded 64 tackles and 13 sacks at Joppatowne High School as a sophomore. Elee transferred to St. Frances Academy ahead of his junior season.
“His natural gift is a special one,” St. Frances coach Messay Hailemariam said on Saturday. “He’s going to be a special one in terms of his career. It’s going to end up transpiring to be one of the best in the country.”
Elee unofficially visited Maryland, the second school he visited, in April. He did not return to College Park ahead of his commitment.
In August, Elee listed Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State as his top five schools. He most recently visited Texas A&M on Nov. 30, a week before his commitment.
Since Elee only verbally committed to the Terps, other schools will pursue the top prospect, Hailemariam said, and it’s possible he later decommits from Maryland.
[Maryland football secures quartet of 4-star recruits on early signing day]
“The dynamic of what’s going on with the NIL and the kids flipping, I’d be honest I have no clue,” Hailemariam said. “If the best schools in the country are losing players at the last second, you know there’s potential there for anybody [to change their commitment].”
Three-star cornerback Khmari Bing, a fellow 2026 commit and Elee’s St. Frances teammate, said Elee’s plan is not to leave Maryland, but the decision will likely depend on what other schools offer monetarily.
Maryland signed 20 class of 2025 athletes on early signing day Wednesday, headlined by four-star Archbishop Spalding quarterback Malik Washington. Ten of the top 50 players from Maryland signed with the Terps, including two top-10 recruits.
Washington posted a photo on FaceTime with Elee on X after his commitment Saturday.
Elee is the fourth player in his class to commit to Maryland and the third from St. Frances. Bing and three-star tight end Damon Hall Jr. committed in August along with Brian Harris, a three-star defensive end from Florida.
With the commitment, Maryland boasts the No. 13 overall 2026 class in the nation, according to 247Sports’ composite. The ranking is the fourth-best in the Big Ten.
The Terps remain in pursuit of five-star 2026 offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho, the No. 2 recruit in his class and No. 1 in Maryland, according to 247Sports’ composite ranking. Iheanacho also holds offers from Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia.
Amid the Terps’ disappointing 4-8 season, Elee’s commitment and Wednesday’s signing day serve as hope for fans.
