Despite having a productive sophomore season, Maryland defensive end Zion Elee hadn’t talked to a college coach until he spoke with Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson in January.
Johnson expressed interest in Elee, but didn’t want to offer the 6-foot-5, 225-pound prospect just yet.
“If I offer you now, your phone will blow up,” Elee recalled of his conversation with Johnson.
As it turned out, Elee blew up anyway. The four-star prospect is now ranked as the 38th-best prospect and the No. 5 edge rusher in the 2026 class. He’s amassed more than 15 Division I offers, including offers from Georgia, Florida State, Missouri, Penn State, Rutgers, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, Miami, Minnesota, South Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.
Elee still remembers his first conversation with Johnson, though communication between the parties was inconsistent over the next few months. That changed on Wednesday when Johnson called Elee on Wednesday to officially offer him.
Grateful to receive an offer from Ohio State@R2X_Rushmen1 @RivalsFriedman @BrianDohn247 @ChadSimmons_@__CoachTrey @OhioStateFB @FTRreport ig: zionbgs pic.twitter.com/tlToCLw4o9
— Zion Ry Elee (@D1zion26) May 8, 2024
“It was great, man,” Elee told Eleven Warriors of getting an OSU offer. “He offered me because he says he sees potential in me and that I remind him of Nick Bosa from my play style. He really hopes to develop me in the future.”
The offer solidified Elee’s interest in OSU and let the Maryland prospect know he was equally valued by the Buckeyes. He’s the fourth edge prospect in the 2026 class to earn an offer from Ohio State, joining Tyler Atkinson, Shaun Scott and Luke Wafle.
“They sit on a high pedestal,” Elee said of where Ohio State is at in his recruitment now. “I’m pretty sure it’s the number one college football team that gets all the fans and stuff. And a lot of good players that played my position come from Ohio State, coached by coach Johnson.”
Elee says he’ll visit OSU for the first time on June 17 and hopes to strengthen his bond with Johnson during their in-person conversations.
Elee had a breakout season for Joppatowne High School (Joppatowne, Maryland) as a sophomore, recording 64 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 13 sacks last year.
“My speed off the ball and the way I’m able to use my pass-rushing moves,” Elee said describing the strongest assets of his game. “I just feel like I have more ball knowledge than the offensive line in front of me. I want to work on my strength and timing more this season.”
Elee said colleges that have spoken to him see him as a versatile player who can drop in coverage in addition to rushing the passer, but his preference is to primarily be an edge rusher and get after the quarterback, whether that’s as a defensive end or a standup rusher.
His recruitment will likely go the distance, as Elee says he plans on committing on National Signing Day in December 2025.
“I’ll be looking at the campus and how the players are treated and developed,” Elee said regarding the biggest factors in his recruitment. “That’s really the only thing that matters. Every college will have nice food and have amenities, I just want to see if the schools I’m looking at treat and develop their players the way I want to be developed.”
