Skip to main content
Join Now

Maryland locking in official visit dates with top local prospects

hunterby:Hunter Shelton•02/17/25•

HunterShelton_

mike-locksley-penn-state-maryland-football-on3
Oct 19, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley during the second half Southern California Trojans at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Maryland head coach Mike Locksley and his staff are looking to make a run at an elite recruiting class in the 2026 cycle.

The Terrapins have already landed a pledge from Joppa (Md.) St. Frances Academy five-star EDGE Zion Elee, the No. 1 recruit in the 2026 On300. All three of the commits in the class to date come out of St. Frances.

With an elite pool of local talent now entering their senior seasons, the Terrapins are trying to capitalize. Holding onto Elee’s pledge is a challenge in and of itself, but there’s other top players in the DMV that continue to consider the Big Ten school, too.

On Monday, Elee, Georgetown (Md.) Five-Star Plus+ offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho and St. Frances Academy four-star safety Jireh Edwards all announced their plans to see the Terps this summer on an official visit.

Both Elee and Iheanacho will be back in College Park for an official on the June 20 weekend. Edwards has set his OV for May 29.

Maryland battling top schools for Zion Elee

Elee has maintained that he’s locked in with the Terps, but he’s still hearing other programs out as he works to come to a final decision. Auburn, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M and South Carolina are all also in line to receive an OV from the top-ranked defensive standout.

“My commitment is pretty solid, but you know teams obviously still come to my school and still try to talk to me and things like that. I obviously have OVs set up, but I’m still fully committed to Maryland, I’m just taking my trips,” Elee told On3’s Shea Dixon during Super Bowl weekend. “It all boils down to signing day, but I know for right now I’m committed to Maryland.”

What could help Maryland keep Elee in the boat is making a splash with other top prospects. Having a five-star in your class can build some serious momentum on the trail, and having Elee’s pledge could do wonders for Locksley and Co. as they try and land the likes of Iheanacho and Edwards.

Elee has spoken at length about what staying home means to him and his decision. He’s trying to get others to do the same, too.

“All the big recruits from Maryland go somewhere else, but me, being a big recruit and going to Maryland, it’s going to influence other guys to stay home, too,” he said.

Iheanacho, Edwards also being courted by other elite programs

The No. 2 prospect in the nation, Iheanacho is a towering trench monster that’s attracted the attention of just about every top school in the nation. He named his top 11 schools earlier this month, though only five or six are set to receive official visits later this year.

Iheanacho told On3 that Georgia, Penn State, Oregon, Alabama and Maryland are currently in line to receive official visits, while LSU, Miami and Texas A&M are battling to receive a sixth OV. Oregon and Georgia have consistently been at the top for 6-foot-6.5, 350-pounder.

As for Edwards, he named a top five of Oregon, Georgia, Auburn, Texas A&M and Tennessee last month. While the Terps didn’t make the cut, they’re still getting an OV and will have a chance to get back in the race.

He’s already set an OV to Auburn, another program that’s built a pipeline to St. Frances Academy. He ranks as the No. 39 overall prospect and No. 4 safety in the cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.