Zahir Mathis

Zahir Mathis is an American football defensive end for the Maryland Terrapins. Early life Mathis is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a Muslim. At age 14, his mother died from cancer, and he afterwards was raised by his grandmother. Mathis attended Imhotep Institute Charter High School where he played football as a defensive end.

Mathis was invited to the 2025 Under Armour All-America Game. He was highly recruited and received his first offer to play college football in 2021. A consensus four-star recruit, he was ranked by ESPN as the 60th-best player nationally, the top player in the state, and the fifth-best defensive end. He later committed to play for the Maryland Terrapins in February 2025.