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Five-star South Carolina football flip target named Rivals All-American

Screenshotby: Kevin Miller08/12/25kevinmillerGC
Zion Elee 6 copy 1
Zion Elee (Photo by Chad Simmons/On3)

The majority of the class of 2026’s top players are committed. However, not all of those pledges will stick between now and National Signing Day in December. South Carolina is hoping that five-star Zion Elee, a current commitment to his hometown Maryland Terrapins, is one of the players who flips before this winter.

Considered the No. 1 overall player in the country in the Rivals Industry Ranking, Elee pledged his service to the Terps this past winter. Publicly, the dynamic EDGE player has remained solidly behind that commitment. However, other teams have kept up trying to convince him to reconsider. That includes the Gamecocks.

Though Elee canceled his official visit to Columbia (and most everywhere else), he remains in contact with the USC staff. He also visited South Carolina unofficially as part of a recruiting bus tour. While on campus, he was a major priority for defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Sterling Lucas. It is far from decided that Elee will back off from his Maryland decision. And even if he does, he may not pick the Gamecocks. Still, with a player as talented as he is, Elee will remain a hot commodity.

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This week, Elee earned recognition as a Rivals All-American. This is what Rivals’ Andy Villamarzo had to say about Elee: “The five-star edge rusher is back for his senior season and will compete against some of the nation’s best this fall. Elee is committed to Maryland and will be a problem for any would-be offensive tackle or tight end trying to block him.”

The All-American honor mirrors his All-American nods from the Polynesian Bowl and Under Armour All-American Game. It is also unsurprising, as Elee is one of the best combinations of high school production and remaining upside. He has logged 23 sacks the past two seasons and is an athletic freak at 6-3.5 and 220 pounds. He runs a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash and possesses a near seven-foot wingspan.

In the class of 2026, South Carolina does not have an EDGE player committed. Two high school EDGEs (Andrew Harris and Keenan Britt) will transition to linebacker with the Gamecocks.

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