No. 1 DE in 2026 has a ‘good connection’ with Penn State football staffer

It’s a plus in recruiting when a coaching staff member can relate to prospects. That can be due to their experience, region, or age. Regardless of the source, making a recruiting target feel at home positions the team for a potential commitment. The Penn State football team has done just that with Zion Elee. As a member of the 2026 recruiting class, Elee ranks as the No.1 edge rusher in the cycle. Following a recent camp in Happy Valley he credited his connection with Nittany Lions‘ defensive line coach Deion Barnes as a positive for Penn State.

No. 1 DE in 2026 has a ‘good connection’ with Penn State football staffer

From Joppa, Maryland, Zion Elee is an elite four-star prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. On3 ranks him as the No. 12 prospect in the country and the No. 1 edge rusher. The Maryland native is currently predicted to stay in-state and committed to Maryland. However, following this past weekend’s camp the Penn State football team is starting to gain ground.

Following his visit to Happy Valley, Elee explained to Blue White Illustrated the impact that defensive line Coach Deion Barnes helped him at the camp.

“I liked how Coach [Deion] Barnes helped me through the drills and corrected my mistakes after every rep. He also fixed my stance. I like that he wants everything to be perfect and wants to get me there.

“He’s a very direct guy and doesn’t go for BS, personality-wise. But when it comes to my one-on-one with him, he helped me as a player and we have a good connection. I do relate with him a lot.”

Unofficial visits matter

While many of the top prospects in the 2025 recruiting class are taking official visits this month, you can’t lose sight of the groundwork. Many relationships are formed during the unofficial visits that occur years before the prospect’s official visit. Zion Elee has now taken two unofficial visits to Penn State.

This past Sunday, he was in Happy Valley for a prospective camp. But the Nittany Lions still trail Maryland who have hosted Elee the most thus far. As the focus shifts from 2025 to 2026 recruiting this fall, it will be interesting to see which game Penn State requests Elee to attend.

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