The Gamecocks are no strangers to drama on the recruiting trail, and once again, all eyes are on Columbia. The question circulating across college football circles right now is: Can South Carolina pull off one of the biggest flips in the 2026 cycle?
That's the buzz after five-star edge rusher Zion Elee, the nation's top-ranked defensive end, posted a photo Sunday night rocking Gamecock gear during a recent visit. Though Elee reaffirmed his commitment to Maryland, his post sent the recruiting world into a frenzy.
— Zion Elee (@D1zion26) November 9, 2025
At 6-foot-3.5 and 220 pounds the St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) standout is built like he was "assembled in a lab" according to 247Sports' Hudson Standish, who compared Elee to Penn State's Chop Robinson.
“Verified near 6-foot-4, 220 pounds with elite length and a combine profile that could pass for a receiver. Nearly unblockable at the Under Armour All-America Game and Polynesian Bowl. There might not be a better edge rusher in the 2026 cycle at redirecting and wrapping up evasive quarterbacks.”
Elee racked up double-digit sacks as a junior, flashing first-step explosion and relentless motor, the kind of traits that could redefine a defense. And if Shane Beamer could somehow pull off this flip, it would be the highest-rated commitment of his tenure. But there is some turbulence behind the scenes.
Maryland head coach Mike Locksley (who was not fired as HC) fired shots, subtle but sharp, in a recent interview on 106.7 The Fan, addressing Elee's visit to Columbia:
“Why would I be mad for Zion to make five to ten grand to go down to South Carolina? He’s been loyal to this area and to me… Some schools take kids on visits and hide it behind NIL stuff. I’m not saying that’s what has happened.”
It's the "not saying" that was an attempt to soften the blow. Locksley's comments lit up the recruiting internet, hinting at frustration over the growing influence of NIL in college football visits, and possibly, a slight touch of déjà vu.
Back in 2021, South Carolina and Maryland locked horns over Jaishawn Barham, a linebacker who flipped to the Terps on National Signing Day after a prior commitment to the Gamecocks. Beamer memorably said afterwards, “It’s all part of the plan. He’s going to flip on Wednesday and go to Maryland.” Three years later, the same story plays out, but it's a new recruit, and maybe the same result.
Elee's visit wasn't random. The Gamecocks have quietly built a recruiting pipeline from Mayland to Columbia, with St. Frances Academy as a key hub, in fact. Beamer and his coaching staff are pushing hard to keep the door open, and even if the flip seems unlikely now, the momentum is unmistakable.