Huskers throw hat in the ring for five-star talent
Nebraska has extended a notable offer to five-star recruit Zion Elee, a commit to Maryland, who appears to be reconsidering his options. Elee initially intended to finalize his decision, but his commitment following the 2025 National Signing Day has led to increased interest from other programs.
The Huskers’ defensive line coach, Terry Bradden, who is currently unable to fully join the coaching staff due to his obligations with the Kansas City Chiefs as they pursue the Super Bowl, reached out to offer Elee on Thursday.
Currently, the edge defender is participating in the Polynesian Bowl after competing in the Under Armour All-American game earlier this month. Standing nearly 6-foot-4 and weighing 220 pounds, Elee has over 30 total offers and plans to visit Auburn and Georgia before the new recruiting dead period kicks in in early February.
Here’s the scouting report from 247Sports on Elee, compiled by Hudson Standish:
“One of the most well-rounded edge prospects we’ve seen at this stage of evaluation as he approaches his junior season. He seems to have been designed specifically to pressure quarterbacks, standing around 6-foot-4, 220 pounds with exceptional length and an athletic profile comparable to that of a field-stretching wide receiver. His verified athleticism is impressive, placing him favorably against Top247 caliber senior edge rushers from the past two recruiting cycles. Beyond his athletic traits, he possesses a natural instinct for the position, securing 13 sacks in just nine games, despite having a limited repertoire of pass-rushing moves at this point. His game is built on a rapid first step, strong closing speed, and excellent reaction time. He’s explosively lateral, enabling him to quickly transition gap-to-gap or pursue ball carriers from the weak side. His motor runs hot, and he’s arguably one of the best edge rushers in the 2026 cycle when it comes to swiftly redirecting to tackle elusive quarterbacks. Currently, he operates primarily as a modern speed rusher but can also convert speed to power. He has the potential to add weight and evolve into a complete player while maintaining his unique skill set. Elee will face a higher level of competition next season after transferring from Joppatowne, a MPSSAA 1A program, to the renowned St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. He should be viewed as a potential immediate impact player as a 3-4 outside linebacker at the collegiate level and one who could shine at the NFL Combine.”
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