No.1 Prospect Zion Elee Announces College Football Future to Deal Crushing Blow to Dan Lanning & James Franklin

In the high-stakes chess match of college football recruiting, the offseason is a battleground where futures are shaped and victories are sealed long before the first snap. But what happens when a prized pawn suddenly declares, “Game over?” In the NIL era, where anything can happen, Maryland knows all too well that five-star commitments are as stable as a house of cards in a hurricane. After a lukewarm season with eight rough losses and four forgettable wins (minus that Trojans game)—the Terps needed a spark. And Zion Elee’s recruitment was a perfect chance for them, but even that had its fair share of drama.

Zion Elee’s recruitment has now taken an interesting turn; on February 21st, analyst Hayes Fawcett reported on X: “BREAKING: Five-Star Maryland EDGE commit Zion Elee has shut down his recruitment & cancelled his OV’s.” Elee, ESPN’s top 2026 defender, had slammed the door shut. “I’m home, no need to explore,” he declared, a phrase that echoed like a mic drop. This “closed now” sign, however, likely left Dan Lanning and James Franklin feeling like they’d been left at the altar.

Now this statement doesn’t sit well with teams like Ohio State, Auburn, Penn State, Texas A&M, & South Carolina, who were about to host Zion Lee before the signing day. But it’s a massive blow for 2 teams in particular: Oregon and Penn State. Zion has visited Penn State three times, and on top of that, On3 predicted that Oregon has an 86% chance of landing him. And now all their hopes went straight into the drain, as Zion is pretty much sticking with Maryland for now.

Elee staying put in Maryland? Well, he began his high school journey at Joppatowne (MD) and had an impressive sophomore season in 2023 with 64 tackles and 13 sacks. Making a big move, he transferred to the powerhouse St. Frances Academy for his junior year and continued his success with 56 tackles, 10 sacks, and three forced fumbles. And in December, he made his decision and chose Maryland over Oregon, Alabama, and Penn State, closing off his recruitment.

Since then, Elee has actively immersed himself in the Maryland program, attending workouts, basketball games, and recruiting events. His strong connections with the Terrapins’ assistants Aazaar Abdul-Rahim and James Thomas Jr. have only solidified his dedication. With College Park being just 30 miles away from his high school, staying close to home was an obvious choice for him.

Now, he’s making it official. While Zion Elee will still make his official visit to Maryland on June 20th, he’s no longer considering any other colleges. He canceled his other four OVs and told ESPN he would only communicate with the Maryland program. It’s a massive win for a program like Maryland, which needs high-end prospects to build a strong team.

Why Zion Elee is extremely valuable for Maryland?

Maryland has secured a significant recruiting victory with the commitment of St. Frances Academy edge rusher Zion Elee. Despite receiving 35 offers from top college football programs, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound player has decided to join Maryland. Elee’s commitment marks a major achievement for the program, as he is now their highest-ranked recruit in history, surpassing even Stefon Diggs from the 2012 cycle. And if that’s not enough, wait till you hear what analysts are saying about Zion Elee’s gameplay.

According to 247Sports National analyst Hudson Standish, Elee’s game strongly reminds him of Chop Robinson’s. That’s a huge compliment for a high school prospect who didn’t even make a single snap in college. Adding to it, Hudson said, “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.” That’s crazy. Even before his junior season, Elee’s evaluation shows he’s one of the best all-around edge prospects in recent memory.

Zion Elee isn’t just another recruit for Maryland; he’s the first four-star-plus in their 2026 class, and he’s already making waves. He’s pulling other St. Frances guys with him, saying, “All the big recruits from Maryland go somewhere else, but me, being a big recruit and going to Maryland, it’s going to influence other guys to stay home, too.” That kind of influence? It’s shot Maryland’s class into the top 25 early on.
Now, head coach Mike Locksley and the crew have a real shot at something special. With guys like Immanuel Iheanacho still in the mix, this class could be a game-changer, maybe even Maryland’s best ever. It’s going to be enticing to see how Elee’s commitment reshapes Maryland football.