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Five-star edge rusher Zion Elee shows his dazzling speed

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•06/03/25•

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Zion Elee

Edge rusher Zion Elee is already a marquee name in high school football even before his senior season at Maryland’s St. Frances Academy. In two years at Joppatowne High, he collected 120 tackles and 23 sacks. Elee achieved these impressive stats thanks in part to his freakish speed.

While Elee is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound pass rusher, he ran the 40-yard dash during a recent Under Armour NEXT Camp in 4.35 seconds. Wide receivers and defensive backs could easily get that time. But for edge rushes, that’s scary speed for opposing offensive linemen.

Having such speed should pique the interest of college football programs for Zion Elee. However, as of December 2024, the fourth-best prospect from the Class of 2026 committed to the Maryland Terrapins. Initially predicted to attend Oregon, Elee will instead stay in his home state. However, despite his commitment, he took an official visit to Auburn last month.

Meanwhile, his 98.59 On3 Industry Ranking makes him one of only four seniors to have a Five-Star Plus+ rating. Only Jackson Cantwell (98.77), Jared Curtis (98.65), and Immanuel Iheanacho (98.6) have higher marks than him.

In an article by SI.com’s Chris Breller, Zion Elee said that is sticking with the Terrapins. He said to the media during the Under Armour NEXT Camp, “It was kind of a personal thing for me, really. I just wanted to stay home. Out of nowhere, I really had that idea to stay at home. And then on top of that, bring everybody that is home to home, you know what I’m saying?”

In that case, Elee will do his part to persuade the likes of Iheanacho, Jireh Edwards, and Khary Adams to remain in Maryland. As for the Terrapins, they will be getting a player in Zion Elee who, as On3’s Charles Power wrote, is an “electric speed rusher with an elite combination of athleticism and length off the edge.”