When Deion Sanders stepped into the head coaching world, many doubted whether the Hall of Famer could reel in the same elite talent at places like Jackson State or the Colorado Buffaloes that blue bloods routinely attract. But quietly and consistently, Coach Prime has flipped the script. Since 2022, Sanders has landed a five-star recruit in every class. A streak that doesn’t just speak to recruiting muscle but hints at a familiar playbook Sanders seems to lean on each cycle. As another top-tier name enters the radar, the buzz around Boulder is back at full volume.
The trend began with two-way sensation Travis Hunter in 2022, who stunned the country by flipping from Florida State to join Deion Sanders at Jackson State. Then came CB Cormani McClain in 2023, the first five-star to follow Prime to Colorado. OT Jordan Seaton became the headliner in 2024, breaking the mold as Sanders’ first non-skill-position five-star. And in the current 2025 class, QB Julian Lewis gave Colorado its first elite QB commit. That’s four years, four five-stars, across multiple positions and multiple programs. And the 2026 class? That target might already be in the crosshairs.
“So I don’t really think he’s like going for this trend of like, OK, I knocked off this position. I knocked off that position,” said Locked On Buffs’ Kevin Borba. “I think every year there’s one five-star that the class—or excuse me, that the program—zeroes in on and is just ready to, I don’t know, attack in recruiting. Like they just go full force after that one recruit. Like last year was Julian Lewis. The year before, it was Jordan Seaton.” That one recruit this cycle looks like Zion Elee. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound edge rusher out of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore is a Maryland commit for now—but make no mistake, CU has eyes on him.
I have received an offer from The University of Colorado @CUBuffsFootball @SFAfootball_MD pic.twitter.com/00F91gDH4u
— Zion Elee (@D1zion26) May 21, 2025
Borba continued, “Let’s just—I think people forget this. Deion Sanders has landed a five-star recruit every year dating back to the 2020 class. So every year he’s good for at least one five-star.” Elee could be that next one. He racked up 56 tackles, 28 for loss, 10 sacks, seven pass deflections, and three forced fumbles last season—numbers that scream SEC, not Big 12. Yet here he is, pledged to the Terrapins while Buffs plots its next full-court press. “I think Zion Elee has the potential to be the guy that they go after full force, no stops,” Borba added. “Because the other two that make the most sense to me and that they’re going after is a scenario.”
That “scenario” includes linebacker Xavier Griffin and five-star receiver Cederian Morgan, a junior out of Alabama who’s been called a “first-round NFL Draft” talent by scouts. Morgan is slated to announce his commitment on July 2, and while Alabama and Auburn are heavy favorites, Colorado’s staff has been aggressive—hosting him for a visit and keeping close tabs. “I don’t know if Colorado got in too late, but they’ve been putting a full-court press on him,” Borba said. Griffin, meanwhile, would fill a massive gap in the Buffaloes’ defense. “They badly need some linebacker talent, that’s for sure. But they’ve yet to really close on a talented linebacker. I would say in the recruiting ranks, or at least a high-caliber one.”
With just two players currently committed in Colorado’s 2026 class, the urgency is rising. The transfer portal has carried them this far, but Sanders knows that long-term success requires star power developed in-house. Elee fits the mold—an NFL frame, elite production, and over 40 offers from schools like Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and Ohio State. Still, Deion Sanders has never been one to be scared off by logos.
Breaking: Zion Elee won’t budge — not even for Deion Sanders
Well, it looks like Coach Prime and Auburn may need to pump the brakes on their five-star flip dreams — because Zion Elee’s not looking to make a switch anytime soon.
Despite an aggressive push from Deion Sanders’ Buffs squad and the Auburn Tigers,. Elee, the five-star edge rusher out of powerhouse St. Frances Academy, is sticking with his pledge to Maryland. More than five months after locking in his commitment, Elee is standing firm. His eyes aren’t on the drama of the recruiting trail —they’re locked on something way more personal: his final high school season.
And that senior year just got even more special. Why? His younger brother, Tyrone Elee — a class of 2028 defensive lineman with plenty of promise — is transferring to St. Frances this summer. The chance to share the field with his brother isn’t just rare; it’s meaningful.
While big programs will no doubt keep making their pitches, don’t expect Zion to waver. Right now, it’s about family.
The post CFB Analyst Reveals Deion Sanders’ Familiar Recruiting Trick as Colorado Pursues No. 1 Athlete appeared first on EssentiallySports.
