Days after inking consensus four-stars Jaylen Gilchrist and Malik Washington, Maryland football landed the biggest commitment of the Mike Locksley era after St. Frances (MD) five-star edge Zion Elee went public with his decision.
Elee, a 6-foot-4 edge originally out of Joppatowne, committed to Maryland with Oregon and Ohio State viewed as the top competition, while schools like Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Texas A&M and Penn State were in the mix. Not only does he become the third pledge out of St. Frances this cycle, but Elee’s commitment now gives Maryland a consensus top-20 class to begin the 2026 cycle.
Where Maryland’s 2026 class ranks:
On3: 13th (5th)
247: 14th (4th)
Rivals: 16th (5th)
Elee’s teammate, defensive back Khmari Bing, became the first pledge of the cycle back in early August before Florida edge Brian Harris committed four days later. Assistant Aazaar Abdul-Rahim would tap back into his local recruiting ties to grow the Terps’ presence in Baltimore after TE Damon Hall went public with his pledge with schools like Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee in contact. Elee’s commitment gives the Terps’ juice on the trail as Maryland looks to extend its local recruiting momentum into the 2026 cycle.
Maryland has a host of local defensive backs drawing national interest in four-stars Jireh Edwards and Khary Adams along with three-star Hakim Satterwhite, while blue-chip offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho is among the top priorities in the 2026 cycle alongside Elee. Similar to Washington’s commitment impact on the rest of the 2025 cycle, Elee gives the Terps juice on the recruiting trail with attention now shifting toward the 2026 class.
“I still want to keep everything modest, but having [Zion Elee] definitely motivates me more. If everyone were to stay in Maryland, we’d be in the top five every year. everyone wants to go out to Penn State, Ohio State but getting a guy like me and Zion would just bring other high-impact guys in,” Iheanacho told IBG following Elee’s commitment.
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