Penn State football target debuts in top 10 of first 2026 recruiting rankings

Penn State football already has a top-five class nationally for the class of 2025, but James Franklin and the Nittany Lions are ready to begin kicking things into gear in 2026 recruiting, as well. On Monday, On3 released its first On300 rankings for the 2026 cycle, giving us a more comprehensive view of where the Nittany Lions’ top targets stand in the national landscape. By far, the highlight of the rankings drop was Maryland edge rusher Zion Elee, who debuted as a top 10 prospect in the nation.

Penn State target lands in top 10 of first On300 2026 recruiting rankings

With the release of the first On300 rankings Monday, James Franklin and Penn State football are officially in a battle for one of the top prospects in the nation. Joppatowne defensive end Zion Elee debuted in the rankings as the top edge rusher in the 2026 cycle and the No. 7 overall prospect in the nation.

“Of all the edge prospects we watched, Zion Elee stood out as the twitchiest pass-rusher,” On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power wrote. “His film pops in a big way, and he had a huge junior season with 13 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. And he made some really impressive plays in pursuit for a guy in his 10th grade season. His combination of speed and twitch caught our attention this early in the process.”

🚨NEW🚨 EDGE Zion Elee ranks No. 7 in the initial 2026 On300.https://t.co/9ShIAvgF5v pic.twitter.com/svVDEd1tZV

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) March 18, 2024

Currently a four-star talent, Elee has not yet been rated by the other major recruiting services. The 6-3, 215-pound end is the second-ranked prospect in Maryland behind offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho, who also holds an offer from Penn State football. Elee was one of three dozen recruits that James Franklin and the Nittany Lions hosted in Happy Valley on Saturday.

Nittany Lions set to battle Big Ten rival for Zion Elee

There’s a long way to go in the 2026 recruiting cycle, but James Franklin appears set to be locked in a battle with in-state Maryland for the talents of Zion Elee. Penn State football is considered one of the frontrunners for the top defensive end, but On3 currently gives a slight edge to the Terrapins.

Maryland was the first program to offer Elee on January 16, with the Nittany Lions trailing close behind on January 29. However, Penn State secured Elee’s the first visit between the Big Ten foes last weekend. Elee is expected to visit College Park on March 30.

Of course, James Franklin is in position to make quite the recruiting pitch to the young defense end. Penn State football can claim two of the top edge rushers in the NFL Draft this spring, with Adisa Isaac and fellow Maryland native Chop Robinson expected to go off the board early.

The Nittany Lions will also have the top defensive end in Maryland from the 2022 cycle on the roster this season, Dani Dennis-Sutton, who will line up opposite newly minted edge rusher Abdul Carter. Together, the pair look poised to be among the best pass-rushers in the Big Ten in 2024.

Penn State currently has one commitment in the 2026 recruiting cycle from top Pennsylvania running back Messiah Mickens.

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