Maryland in the mix for top-ten ’26 prospect after three visits

Zion Elee courtesy of @d1zion26/X

Three visits to Maryland within one month has given 2026 Joppatowne (MD) blue-chip defensive end Zion Elee a good grasp of the hometown program, thanks to one staffer in particular.

“I’ve created a nice bond with [recruiting analyst] Christian Feliziani,” Elee told IBG. “He’s been along the whole process since he came to Maryland. He introduced me to all our position coaches and showed me around the locker room, gave me a good tour of the school and then went in-depth with everything. He made sure I got the best care when I get to Maryland.”

Elee’s first trip to campus gave him a brief chance to meet the coaching staff while getting a tour of the facilities, but his second trip to campus gave him a more in-depth look after spending the day on campus getting acclimated to the defensive line room led by Brian Williams. “They told me to come early so I got in position meetings, I got to sit down with the head coach and it was hands-on. The second time was when I really got to get in on the practice. I got a good look at their front, what they like to run.”

His third visit was for Saturday’s spring game as the top-ten prospect got a chance to meet Maryland’s new local recruiting ace. “I actually met coach Aazaar, he recruited me but this was the first time getting a chance to meet him.”

Elee took advantage of being in South Carolina for a camp to make the trip to Columbia to check out the Gamecocks, while Alabama and Georgia are among the newest schools to jump into the mix in Elee’s recruitment. Venturing out to more schools is a continued focus with plans to visit Ohio State next month, but his three trips to College Park gave Elee a chance to see whether Maryland is a viable option in his recruitment.

“Maryland would make it if I cut my list today,” Elee told IBG. “It’s home so I kept visiting because I really want to make sure if it’s in my top schools.”

Zion Elee is rated a four-star prospect and the seventh-best prospect in the 2026 class, checking in as the nation’s top edge prospect and second-best in Maryland.