Shawne Merriman praises Maryland football edge rusher Zion Elee

Ahmed Ghafir
1 day ago
3 min read

Last week's donor event in New York City featured several of the most accomplished and successful former athletes to come out of the University of Maryland, but it also featured multiple alums being inducted into the university's athletics Hall of Fame. Shawne Merriman was one of the three to be honored alongside Joe Smith and Marissa Coleman, but it was an honor that none of them saw coming.

Merriman shared the emotions that came in the moments after learning of the news

"You saw my face in that video. I was more than surprised. Initially, I thought that it was a big fundraising event, and obviously in this NIL era, those things are key. And I always told Jim, the new AD at the University of Maryland, said, "Hey, well, you guys got stuff going on, you need me there, just let me know.' So that's what I thought about coming out to the event," Merriman said on 105.7.

"But I think one of the coolest things is some of the guys you mentioned, and Juan Dixon, I mean, I rode the bus over with Chris Wilcox and Steve Blake Tahj Holden, so just have that opportunity to see those guys, you haven't seen them, a lot of those guys probably over 15 years. So just having that conversation [on] that bus right over reminded me the old days in the locker room, and that part, it was pretty special. Coincidentally enough, a lot of those guys knew already. Nobody told me, including my son, who I'm most mad at. So it was just, it was an awesome honor, man. Just to be there up there with a lot of those guys was really special."

It's a fitting honor for one of the most imposing players to come out of Maryland's defense over the last 25 years. After spurning blue blood interest to ink with the hometown program, the Douglass High School grad became a first team All-ACC selection in 2004 after leading the team in both sacks and TFLs while ending his college career ranked second on the all-time sacks list with 23. He became the second defensive lineman to head to the NFL Draft in as many years after Randy Starks, now Maryland's current defensive line coach, left eraly to become a round three pick in the 2004 season.

Merriman then became a force in the NFL after being named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2005 before following it up with a First Team All-Pro selection in 2006 then a Second Team pick the following year. Merriman led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2006, ending his first three seasons with 40 sacks and eight forced fumbles. He also finished third to Champ Bailey and Jason Taylor, Joy Taylor's brother, in the AP Defensive Player of the Year race in 2007.

Fast forward to now, Merriman reflected on what has proven to be the most impactful and deep pass rush that Maryland has seen maybe since the former blue-chip recruit was in College Park himself. With Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart back for another season while head coach Mike Locksley praised DD Holmes for his progression in the spring, Merriman pointed to the St. Frances product as the one he's excited to watch.

"And one of them is Zion [Elee]. I just think that dude is going to be a superstar. I see him leading the Big Ten in sacks. He's a real problem. My son who also just transferred to St. Frances playing quarterback, Justin Merriman, coming from that group. 40 some kids with D1 offers. Keep pulling talent from there. Really, really big fan of Zion. I think he's going to be a top-ten draft pick at some point."

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