The Maryland Terrapins received a shock dedication earlier this month when 2026 five-star recruit Zion Elee dedicated to this system, staying true to his hometown workforce.
Effectively, even Elee himself was shocked on the determination, however the timing and second felt proper for the No. 2 recruit within the cycle, resulting in the early dedication.
“It undoubtedly shocked me,” Elee mentioned about making the choice. “[Head Coach Mike Locksley] was undoubtedly very shocked I dedicated. That’s what it was like. He mentioned [Under Armour CEO] Kevin Plank referred to as him and informed him the information, really, and so they have been simply actually shocked that I really dedicated. I informed him per week earlier than I really dedicated, however he didn’t consider me.”
What finally led Elee to decide to Maryland?
“I see the legacy I might make,” Elee mentioned. “I’ve seen how different guys have been staying residence, particularly, like highschool [players]. A number of guys had the chance to switch to a much bigger faculty after getting all these presents, and so they stayed at their faculty attempting to make an influence.
“I undoubtedly like their campus. I like how they follow. Quite simple, very straightforward. I just like the coaches, too. That’s the primary factor about it. I actually just like the coaches. All of us join. We’re from Maryland. Me and [co-defensive coordinator] Aazaar [Abdul-Rahim], we’re from Maryland, so we join. It undoubtedly has a unique really feel to me. Staying residence clearly would really feel the very best. All people that is round you.”
Whereas Elee has dedicated to the Terrapins and has remained agency to that call, there are nonetheless quite a few prime faculties actively recruiting the five-star recruit, pushing for a flip.
Though he gained’t take any extra unofficial visits, Elee shared that the Penn State Nittany Lions, Oregon Geese and Alabama Crimson Tide will get official visits in the summertime.
What stands out concerning the three different prime contenders?
On Oregon: “What excites me concerning the Geese is clearly their successful program. They’ve an enormous employees. Like they know what they’re doing. Clearly they’re successful and so they have a extremely large, actually large faculty, very good program…I feel they’re so profitable as a result of their head coach. They’ve nice connections, like Phil Knight, what I’m saying? They’re head donor is Nike. They received every thing you’d need. They received every thing you want.”
On Penn State: “Their connections with edge rushers, how they develop edge rushers. Their historical past in edge rusher. They’ve a really agency historical past, nice rushers which might be within the league proper now, dominating the league.”
On Alabama: “It was actually only a favourite faculty. I wish to get down there, see what it’s like in individual. I used to be in communication with the overall supervisor and the defensive finish coach, however once in a while, I don’t actually communicate to them.”
Whereas faculties have actively pursued Elee, he has but to re-engage in conversations with faculties exterior of Maryland and is aware of that his method to his recruitment will change going ahead.
“[With my recruitment], I’m simply taking a look at it a unique method. Since I’m dedicated to a faculty now, I’m probably not going to be centered on different faculties, what I’m saying? However, they gonna have to come back at me totally different to get a good response from me now that I’m dedicated.”
With nonetheless a yr to signing day, Elee’s recruitment is much from over, even along with his shock dedication.
However, the issue of taking part in at residence actually appears to be a key as different faculties stay in pursuit for what must be among the finest move rushers within the Class of 2026.
