South Carolina has delivered a massive shock on the recruiting trail, landing five-star edge rusher Zion Elee after a dramatic late flip away from Maryland. The stunning move immediately reshapes the 2026 recruiting landscape and gives head coach Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks one of their biggest recruiting victories in recent program history.
Elee, the nation’s No. 5 overall prospect from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, had been committed to Maryland for nearly a year and was long viewed as the cornerstone of the Terrapins’ 2026 class. However, South Carolina continued to pursue him late into the recruiting cycle, maintaining constant communication and presenting a vision centered on development, culture, and long-term NFL potential.
Sources close to the situation say relationships were the deciding factor. The Gamecocks’ coaching staff, particularly defensive ends coach Sterling Lucas, built a strong bond with Elee over time. A pivotal official visit to Columbia during the season—highlighted by the electric atmosphere at Williams-Brice Stadium—played a major role in shifting momentum in South Carolina’s favor.
The flip is another clear sign of South Carolina’s growing recruiting presence in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region. Under Beamer, USC has aggressively targeted the DMV and has now secured multiple elite prospects from the area, consistently winning head-to-head battles against traditional regional powers.
For Maryland, the loss is a significant blow. Elee was expected to headline its 2026 class and elevate the program’s national profile. Despite confidence from the Terrapins’ staff leading into signing day, the late change of heart ultimately swung toward Columbia.
With Elee officially in the fold, South Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class receives an immediate boost in both national ranking and star power. The addition gives the Gamecocks a potential program-changing talent and sends a loud message across the SEC: South Carolina is no longer just competing for elite recruits—it’s winning the biggest battles.
More details are expected to emerge as official announcements and reactions roll in, but one thing is already clear—Zion Elee’s flip will be remembered as a defining moment of the 2026 recruiting cycle.
