Zion Elee

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-3, 220 lbs. Taller than 21% and heavier than 16% of 2026 Edge Rusher prospects in the SEC Scouts database (169 with a listed size).

Play Style

An upfield speed rusher, mostly from a wide 9-technique or standing up. He wins with get-off, getting his hips turned around the corner and using his length to keep tackles' hands off him, then accelerates to the quarterback. He diagnoses plays quickly, so he tends to be the first defender moving at the snap, and he chases hard from the backside. St. Frances moved him around the formation, which suggests he can handle pressure packages, stunts and coverage drops. On film, the only real rep-to-rep variation is against the run: when blockers get into his chest, a 220-pound frame can get moved.

Strengths

• Explosive first step and closing burst: 247 calls it a 'lightning-quick first step' with 'ideal reactionary athleticism,' and it shows up in the stats (13 sacks as a sophomore at Joppatowne, 10 as a junior at St. Frances, 12 sacks and 20 TFL as a senior per 247).
• Rare length for the position: 35.5-inch arms let him strike first, keep tackles off his chest and get a hand on the quarterback or the ball even when he doesn't win cleanly. His 4 forced fumbles as a senior back this up.
• Proven against top competition: he produced against the national-caliber schedule St. Frances plays, and 247 describes 'nearly unblockable' reps at the major all-star events, so his dominance isn't just a product of weak regional opponents.
• Motor and pursuit range: his relentless effort plus sub-4.5 speed let him chase plays down from the backside and cover a lot of ground laterally, which also makes him a real option to drop into coverage or rush from different alignments.

Areas to Improve

• Play strength and run defense at the point of attack: at 220 he is vulnerable to Big Ten tackles and tight ends who drive-block him or down-block him inside. Adding 20-plus pounds of functional mass while keeping his burst is the biggest development task.
• Pass-rush plan and counters: he could win high school reps on speed and bend alone. Against college tackles who set deep to take away his speed, he needs a reliable inside counter and a power rush like long-arm or bull-rush-to-speed, plus a plan that links moves together.
• Setting the edge and playing the run with discipline: speed rushers his size tend to rush too far upfield and open running lanes. He needs to get better at squeezing gaps, shedding blocks and staying responsible on zone-read and option plays.

College Projection

He is already contributing. In Maryland's 2026 opener he played 27 snaps (just over half of the defensive snaps and the second-most of any Terp defender), with 11 pass-rush snaps and 2 pressures per PFF. With fellow edge rusher Zahir Mathis out for the season, his role should grow. Expect Year 1 to lean on pass-rush downs, with 5-8 sacks and 12-15 TFL as a realistic range. Once he adds weight and gets a full college strength program, he should become an every-down starter and an All-Big Ten candidate in Year 2 or 3.

NFL Outlook

A projected first-round talent. 247's evaluation says 'First Round' and compares him to Will Anderson Jr. The mix of 35.5-inch arms, sub-4.5 speed and production against top competition is exactly what NFL teams pay for at edge. He would be draft-eligible after the 2028 season. How high he goes will depend mostly on getting to 245-plus pounds without losing burst and showing he can hold up against the run. If he does both, he has the profile of a top-15 pick.

Best Fit

A multiple, attacking front that plays him as a standup OLB/Jack in a 3-4 or as a wide-alignment 9-tech in an even front, where he is used as a pure rusher on passing downs and moved around in pressure packages. A strong strength and nutrition program is critical to his development. Maryland is a good match: it's close to home, he gets immediate snaps, and the defense can be built around him, as long as the staff manages his run-down snaps until his weight catches up.