baltimore saint francis college Five Star Plus+ EDGE Zion Eli Already with Maryland.
When he committed to the Terrapins last winter on Dec. 7, many weren’t sure if that commitment would last until National Signing Day. Many programs tried to lure Eli away from College Park, but he kept his word and is now headed to a local Big Ten program.
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This is a monster supplement Mike Locksley The Terps as Elee are the headliners of a small class that hovers around the top 40 in the Rivals industry team recruiting rankings. He is the fifth-ranked overall prospect and the highest-ranked EDGE in the 2026 cycle, according to the company. Competitor Industry Rankingutilizing a weighted average of all major recruiting media companies.
Elie has long been one of the top prospects in the country regardless of class. His early commitment to Maryland last winter surprised some. But since then, Elie has continued to reiterate his commitment.
“I’m going to stay in Maryland,” Eli told Rivals in August. “I have a really close relationship with the coaches. Obviously, we’re still building relationships because I still talk to them all the time.”
This Auburn program is getting some attention heading into the summer. South Carolina is pushing hard this fall and Texas is trying to make a splash. Locksley and his staff feel reassured about retaining five-star++ recruits, Even if he suddenly appears on another campus.
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He now heads to Maryland from St. Francis College, one of the top high school football programs in the country. Eli is the only blue-chip player in the Terps’ class, but he’s a big deal.
Zion Eli Scouting Summary
Rivals’ scouting and rankings team described Elee’s prospect this way:
“Electric speed rusher with the perfect combination of athleticism and edge length. Prior to his junior season, he was listed at approximately 6’3″ and 220 lbs. Has true elite length with arms measuring 35.5” In. A standout who combines rare length with top-end athleticism and transfers speed down the field with impressive explosiveness dating back to his sophomore year at Choppatown (Maryland), he exploded out of the backfield with high-end first-step speed and transferred to St. Francis College in Baltimore where he had 28 tackles and 10 sacks.
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…Displays a tendency to disrupt games during exhibition games. Often plays the role of stand-up pass rusher. Has extraordinary speed. The ability to play to strength and set advantages is solid but needs to continue to improve. Rare athletic and physical traits coupled with consecutive years of high-level performance make him the EDGE Rookie of the Year in 2026 heading into his senior season. “
