COLLEGE PARK, Md. – University of Maryland Head Coach Michael Locksley announced that 16 student-athletes have signed a Big Ten athletics scholarship agreement to play football for the Terrapins during the early signing period, which began on Wednesday.
Maryland's 2026 class is currently ranked No. 26 nationally by 247Sports and No. 29 by Rivals/On3 in composite average player rankings. It's highlighted by five-star defensive lineman Zion Elee, who supplants Stefon Diggs to become the highest-rated player to ever sign with the Terps, according to 247Sports.
Maryland also inked a trio of four-star prospects according to ESPN - LB Kaden Carter, OL Day'jon Moore and DL Jamarcus Whyce.
The Terps signed six of the top 17 players from the state of Maryland, including Elee, who was ranked as the consensus No. 1 player in the state. Maryland also landed two of the top eight players from Washington, D.C. (Zahir Cobb, Brayden Marko) according to 247Sports and two of the top 20 players from the state of Ohio (Whyce, Nathan Bernhard) according to ESPN.
The 16 student-athletes hail from five different states and Washington, D.C. In addition to the state of Maryland (8 signees), the Terps added two players each from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. and one each from Georgia and Texas.
The Terps added seven players on offense (2 offensive lineman, 2 tight ends, 2 wide receiver, 1 quarterback) and nine players on defense (4 defensive backs, 3 defensive linemen, 2 linebackers).
Eleven signees will enroll early – Bernhard, Cam Brickle II, Darrell Carey, Carter, Elee, Jayden Kitchens, Moore, Hakim Satterwhite, Josiah Teasley, Whyce and Javonte Williams.
Bios for all signees can be found on Maryland's 2026 National Signing Day Central site.
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