Brian Kelly and the Tigers make the move for the No. 1 overall player in America, extend offer this week.
Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy five-star edge rusher Zion Elee continues a meteoric rise up the recruiting rankings after coming in as the No. 1 player in the 2026 Recruiting Class.
Elee, a coveted recruit with the “Who’s Who” of college football extending scholarship offers, has America’s attention as the top prospect in America.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder is a versatile piece defensively where he can be used as both an edge rusher and linebacker with elite-level traits
Despite holding offers from the likes of Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon and more, Elee elected to shutdown his recruitment in December after revealing a commitment to the hometown Maryland Terrapins
It was a move that sent shockwaves across the college football recruiting scene with the Big Ten program locking in the nation’s top talent.
But it hasn’t stopped SEC schools and other top programs from pursuing the crowned jewel of the 2026 Recruiting Cycle.
Now, the LSU Tigers have entered the mix after extending a scholarship offer to Elee on Wednesday
Elee has surpassed 30 total Division I offers with LSU being the most recent school to extend a scholarship his way.
He has visits set with other programs, including the Auburn Tigers, despite being committed to the Terrapins and will be a player schools keep close tabs on down the stretch of his recruitment.
Elee attends St. Frances Academy in Maryland where he joins a pair of teammates committed to the hometown Terrapins: Tight end Damon Hall and cornerback Khmari Bing.
LSU continues looking to bolster the 2026 Recruiting Class with multiple visitors expected in Baton Rouge over the next couple of weeks.
With six commitments on board to this point, the next few months will be critical in assembling an elite class with multiple top prospects on the program’s radar.
LSU holds a Top-5 2026 Recruiting Class and the No. 2 class in the Southeastern Conference.
Who’s on board and verbally committed?
The 2026 Commitments (6):
Richard Anderson: No. 2 DL in America
Richard pledged to the Tigers in 2024 with the program continuing to keep a foot on the gas for his services. He’s fresh off of a monster junior campaign at Edna Karr after leading his program to a state championship victory.
The coveted lineman earned 5A All-State honors after tallying 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, two interceptions and a touchdown in 2024. He’s the top pledge in LSU’s 2026 Recruiting Class to this point.
Aiden Hall: No. 4 Safety in America
Hall committed to Kelly and Co. during his junior campaign where he joined his teammate, Richard Anderson, as LSU pledges in the 2026 class.
The coveted defensive back rounded out his junior season with 38 tackles, including 12 for loss and four sacks, plus four interceptions, 11 pass break-ups, four blocked punts and two fumble recoveries. One of the top safeties in America, LSU will be battling down the stretch for his services.
