The Maryland Terrapins football program made a thunderous statement on National Signing Day, securing the signature of Zion Elee, a five-star edge rusher from Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy. Elee’s decision to stay in-state and commit to Maryland has sent ripples through the college football landscape, as he becomes not only the highest-rated football signee in Maryland’s history but also the top-ranked recruit to ever emerge from the state. It’s a coup for head coach Mike Locksley and his staff, who have managed to keep one of the nation’s most coveted prospects right at home in College Park.
Elee, measured at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds with a remarkable 35.5-inch arm length, is widely regarded as an electric speed rusher with an elite combination of athleticism and length off the edge. According to the Rivals Industry Ranking, he is the No. 5 overall prospect and the top-ranked EDGE in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Some recruiting services even have him as high as No. 2 nationally, underscoring the magnitude of his commitment for the Terrapins.
His journey to Maryland wasn’t without drama. Elee first pledged to the Terrapins on December 7, 2024, a move that surprised many observers given the fierce competition for his talents. Programs like Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, and South Carolina all made aggressive pushes to sway him away from College Park, with South Carolina even hosting Elee for a fall visit. Yet, through the months of speculation and recruiting battles, Elee stood firm. "I’m staying locked in with Maryland," Elee told Rivals in August. "The relationship I have with the coaches is pretty tight. Obviously, we are still building because I still talk to them on a constant basis."
For Locksley, Elee’s decision is validation of the program’s commitment to building genuine relationships. "The relationships I have are very deep rooted," Locksley said on Wednesday as the early signing period began. "It’s based on authenticity. It’s based on trust. It’s based on the success that I’ve had with the players that have come and bought into this program, and so I think it starts with relationships. They do still matter."
On the field, Elee’s production speaks for itself. During his junior season at St. Frances Academy, he racked up 28 tackles for loss and 10 sacks against some of the toughest competition in the country. Rivals’ scouting and rankings team describes him as a "standout in the combine setting who transfers the speed over to the field," highlighting his "eye-popping burst" and "game-wrecking tendencies in showcase games." Elee often lines up as a standup pass rusher and is lauded for his blow-by speed off the edge, though analysts note that continued strength development will be key as he transitions to the college level.
Locksley is excited about more than just Elee’s pass rush. "The versatility — I mean, I’ve seen the kid play running back, I’ve seen him play receiver. I’ve seen him do a lot of things, which I guess shows the athletic ability of a guy like him," the coach remarked. Indeed, Elee’s rare blend of physical traits and high-level production over consecutive seasons sets him apart as a potential instant-impact player for the Terrapins.
For Elee, the decision to stay close to home carried special significance. "Another driving factor of my decision is to be able to stay close to home and be a role model in my community," Elee announced on social media. "There’s no better place to do that than Maryland." His commitment also aligns him with a growing trend of top local athletes choosing to remain in-state, joining the likes of five-star basketball standout Baba Oladotun and Olympic gold medalist Quincy Wilson in keeping their talents in Maryland.
At his signing ceremony at St. Frances Academy, Elee addressed the attention and scrutiny that comes with being a top recruit. "The hate is kind of funny, it’s kind of random. But the positivity too is also funny," he said. "I’m going to face more of this at the next level, so it’s really nothing to me." His poise and maturity have not gone unnoticed by coaches and fans alike.
Maryland’s 2026 recruiting class, anchored by Elee, features 16 signees and hovers around the top 40 nationally in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Eleven of those recruits will enroll early, giving them a head start on campus in January 2026. Notable additions include wide receivers Josiah Teasley and Jayden Kitchens, as well as defensive lineman Jamarcus Whyce, who flipped from Purdue. Both Teasley and Kitchens, teammates at St. James Academy in Springfield, Virginia, are expected to bolster a receiver corps that is losing three starters to graduation. "They both have shown that they can be explosive. And to me, this offense has always had receivers that have been able to be explosive, and these two give us a chance to get back to where we have some really talented guys that will be able to stretch the field and make plays for us on the outside," Locksley said.
The Terrapins enter the 2026 season looking to rebound from back-to-back 4-8 campaigns. Athletic director Jim Smith has publicly backed Locksley, providing increased resources and a clear mandate to improve. "We still have some work to do that will be handled through the portal to maybe replace some of the depth… And I’m excited about that part," Locksley noted. "That’s the next transition for us as we close the book on the high school signees for this signing period. Our intention is now to go to the portal as well as retaining our current roster."
Elee’s arrival is a beacon of hope for a program eager to climb the Big Ten ranks. While the Terps’ 2026 recruiting class may not be the largest or most star-studded from top to bottom, landing a prospect of Elee’s caliber is a game-changer. His presence promises to energize both the locker room and the fan base as Maryland aims to turn the page and write a new chapter in its football history.
With National Signing Day bringing renewed optimism and a sense of momentum, all eyes are now on College Park to see how Elee and his fellow signees will shape the future of Terrapins football. The journey is just beginning, and Maryland faithful have plenty of reasons to be excited for what’s next.