Nation’s No. 1 Recruit Announces Plans to Play Two Positions in College originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Before Travis Hunter has played a snap in the NFL, he has seemingly inspired the next generation of football players.
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The former No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class had a memorable college football career, excelling at both wide receiver and cornerback. He capped his Colorado career by winning the Heisman. He parlayed his success into being the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Now, up-and-coming players are hoping to replicate his path to the NFL. The latest player to express a desire to play two positions at the college level is 2026 five-star edge Zion Elee. The Maryland commit is the No. 1 player in the country according to Rivals’ industry rankings, and he is expected to be a dominant pass rusher at the next level.
Elee shared on X that in addition to chasing after quarterbacks on defense he wants to catch passes from them on offense.
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According to ESPN, Elee recorded 56 tackles, 10 sacks and three forced fumbles this past season for Maryland powerhouse Saint Frances Academy.
Although he is listed as a defensive end and tight end on MaxPreps, there are no receiving stats available for him. He has elite measurables that any quarterback would love to have as a target.
Terrapins HC Mike Locksley.© Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
According to recruiting insider Billy Tucker, Elee ran a 4.43 40-yard dash, had a broad jump of more than 11 feet and also has an 80-inch wingspan on his 6-foot, 4-inch frame.
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His weight is where complications arise for Elee and his aspirations to play both ways. He is listed at 220 pounds already, which is only nine pounds fewer than NFL star DK Metcalf, one of the larger receivers at the pro level. The Maryland staff will presumably want Elee to put on weight once he gets to campus if he wants to stay on the defensive line. Having a 245-pound-plus receiver isn’t common.
It seems more logical that he would play defensive end and tight end, but if Maryland is willing to give it a shot that is all that matters.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
