Five-star edge rusher Zion Elee locked in with Maryland as others push for visits
Zion Elee, who is the No. 2 player in the 2026 class and committed to Maryland, breaks down the latest on his recruitment.
ORLANDO -- Three weeks passed since five-star Zion Elee, who is the No. 2 player in the 2026 class, committed to Maryland three weeks ago.
His phone blew out from coaches in the immediacy of it, but he did not take any calls.
The Baltimore St. Frances standout said he could take official visits later on -- Oregon, Penn State and Alabama are among the possibilities -- but he said people are mistaking his commitment as being soft.
"It's been crazier than it was before with a bunch of (schools) trying to get in contact with me but I am not responding," Elee said. "I am at where I am at. I haven't responded to any of the coaches."
In addition to Oregon, Penn State and Alabama, Elee said LSU and USC are also trying to get in touch with him, but he has not found a reason to respond.
"I am feeling great about Maryland," he said. "I committed there. I feel at home. I've gained a better relationship with the coaches after committing. I am in communication with them more, I've talked to them more. I actually went down there after the commitment, and they showed me more love.
"My plan moving forward is just to take official visits. I am not going to take any more unofficial visits. I am serious about this commitment. I am only doing OVs."
He has not yet thought about the timing of official visits -- spring or fall -- but he will give it some thought later on.
Penn State hosted Elee already on an unofficial visit.
"With Penn State, it's definitely the way they develop edges," he said. "They also have a great program."
Elee visited Oregon and there is interest in the Ducks because of the coaching staff.
"They have a fun staff," Elee said. "They are a winning program, and they just have good connections. I like how they run their defense."
Alabama is
"It was a dream school to be at with Nick Saban and the dynasty he had," Elee said. "It was just a dream school. I didn't have a connection with them when I started getting recruited by them."
