Maryland football under Mike Locksley hasn’t had much to celebrate or be excited about with the program’s recent struggles. However, after landing four-star quarterback Malik Washington in the 2025 recruiting class, the Terrapins have given fans a reason to believe brighter days could be ahead.
At least ESPN thinks so.
They recently released a story by recruiting coordinator Billy Tucker, “Ranking the top 25 college football recruits regardless of class,” and the Terrapins made national headlines with a 2026 commit cracking the top tier. But not only did he land on the list — he came in at No. 3 overall.
That would be edge rusher Zion Lee, a five-star prospect in the Terrapins’ 2026 recruiting class.
“The in-state Maryland commit is arguably the most athletic edge rusher we have ever evaluated,” Tucker wrote. “His 4.43 40-yard dash would place him in the top 5% all time at the NFL combine for defensive ends. At 6-4 with an 80-inch wingspan, Elee is long, lean and explosive, with plenty of room to add more bulk. That length, paired with an excellent first step and strong motor, wreaks havoc off the edge. He broad-jumped more than 11 feet this spring, the highest ever recorded on the Under Armour Camp Series platform. Elee will be an instant impact college defender in fall 2026.”
Lee is the highest-rated recruit the Maryland football program has ever secured — and the fact that he’s a hometown kid only makes the story sweeter. According to 247Sports, he’s the No. 3 overall player nationally and the top-ranked edge rusher in his class.
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It’s a major win for Locksley, who enters the 2025 season under increasing pressure to turn things around.
Despite a few bowl appearances, the Terrapins have yet to make a serious push in the Big Ten under his watch. With results lagging and fan patience thinning, elite recruits like Lee and Washington could be Locksley’s last shot at building a lasting foundation in College Park.
Whether it’s a turning point or just another flash of potential remains to be seen — but for now, Maryland football has a rising star on the way and a rare jolt of momentum behind it. And in today’s game, that’s more than enough to believe that change might finally be coming.