'19 OH OG Zeke Correll (Notre Dame Signee)

[BobbyMac]

Damn.

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[Irish YJ]

big praise
i will never, but....

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I will never compare anyone to Quenton Nelson, ever. <br><br>But, this highlight tape... <a href="https://t.co/nFbbsXUUZ5">https://t.co/nFbbsXUUZ5</a></p>— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/1075195637220679680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[NDVirginia19]

big praise
i will never, but....

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I will never compare anyone to Quenton Nelson, ever. <br><br>But, this highlight tape... <a href="https://t.co/nFbbsXUUZ5">https://t.co/nFbbsXUUZ5</a></p>— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/1075195637220679680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[greyhammer90]

Seeing a OL teabag a Defender will never stop being amazing.

 

[ab2cmiller]

After reading Sampson's tweet, I was fully prepared to see the "nasty" factor. I was a little surprised with Zeke's quickness.

 

[Irishbounty28]

Zeke the FREAK!

 

[Henges24]

Pretty sure half of those kids were crying after landing on their faces.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

How is his competition? Because he looks like he has super hero strength. Seemed like every guy he touched hit the ground.

 

[loomis41973]

How is his competition? Because he looks like he has super hero strength. Seemed like every guy he touched hit the ground.

Same question I have.


I do like his nasty streak though.

 

[Irish YJ]

How is his competition? Because he looks like he has super hero strength. Seemed like every guy he touched hit the ground.

several of the clips were him tossing little dudes (which i loved regardless) so it kind of amplified things lol....

he had plenty of clips driving DL 10 yards into the endzone too, as well as pancaking big guys.

 

[Irish YJ]

Same question I have.


I do like his nasty streak though.

Cinci was always a little weird I thought. I think it's decent, but not great. They have like a strange conference league or something. They don't look like they play any of the biggies, and Maxpreps has them 744 nationally (not sure if accurate).

 

[Luckylucci]

Could just be recruiting talk but there has been a prevailing thought that he can compete as a true freshman at C. Either way he’s a pretty darn good prospect.

 

[Irish#1]

Ouch!

 

[NDVirginia19]

Favorite play is at 2:08 where he just bench presses that DT, who looks to be a pretty big dude, straight from his first punch in pass pro. As for the teabags, that has to be a learned practice from watching Q's film. Since all of these linemen are EEing, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see someone like Zeke be in the competition for Mustipher's spot from day one.

 

[BeauBenken]

First off -- his whole offensive line looks to be big AND good...especially for the level they compete.


Second -- compete at center? Kid looks to have the quickest feet of any offensive lineman I've seen in this class. (To be fair, I'm a few or more beers in, but he looks as quick as a hiccup.) He can compete at any spot he wants. He might be the best offensive lineman in this entire class. (Not our class, the nation.)

 

[Luckylucci]

First off -- his whole offensive line looks to be big AND good...especially for the level they compete.


Second -- compete at center? Kid looks to have the quickest feet of any offensive lineman I've seen in this class. (To be fair, I'm a few or more beers in, but he looks as quick as a hiccup.) He can compete at any spot he wants. He might be the best offensive lineman in this entire class. (Not our class, the nation.)

I only said OC because that’s probably where he can get on the field fastest. It’s been said since his commitment he’d be given that opportunity.

 

[BeauBenken]

I only said OC because that’s probably where he can get on the field fastest. It’s been said since his commitment he’d be given that opportunity.

Oh, I know. You're not wrong, but just...holy hell is the kid better than probably just being a center.


Your center has to be smart, sure, but they spend most their time either down blocking or base blocking. Zeke seems far too talented to remain there for his entire career, unless he's just destined to be a first round center.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

I loved the film, but I think he is still going to need a year in the weight room. I think he projects best at guard because he has quick feet but looks much more comfortable with a quick set like Q than a traditional drop set. That is fine, but he probably needs to put on more mass and muscle before he will be able to stand his ground against bigger guys and blitzing linebackers who are the size of some of the d-linemen he played in HS. It also seems like his HS offense is much more of a pin and pull scheme with little to no zone concepts, so just getting zone blocking down might take some time. Overall I think he looks good and has a huge upside, but I just don't see him being in any rotations next year.

 

[Irish YJ]

I loved the film, but I think he is still going to need a year in the weight room. I think he projects best at guard because he has quick feet but looks much more comfortable with a quick set like Q than a traditional drop set. That is fine, but he probably needs to put on more mass and muscle before he will be able to stand his ground against bigger guys and blitzing linebackers who are the size of some of the d-linemen he played in HS. It also seems like his HS offense is much more of a pin and pull scheme with little to no zone concepts, so just getting zone blocking down might take some time. Overall I think he looks good and has a huge upside, but I just don't see him being in any rotations next year.

Not saying he's a day one starter, not saying he can adapt to the jump in skill/size of opponents, and not saying he doesn't need to put on some mass. But he's an EE, he's 285 now, the weight he has now looks like good weight, his strength numbers are good (if real), and center I'm guessing requires the least "scheme" adjustment. He could easily be 300 by the spring game. Mustipher is only 306. And he's already heavier/bigger than Grunhard is right now. I know they'll look at moving others around, but if he is as strong as advertised, and he's a quick gainer, he's going to get a solid shot IMO. My concern is that he's too damn tall for center with Book as QB lol.

 

[Luckylucci]

Oh, I know. You're not wrong, but just...holy hell is the kid better than probably just being a center.


Your center has to be smart, sure, but they spend most their time either down blocking or base blocking. Zeke seems far too talented to remain there for his entire career, unless he's just destined to be a first round center.

I get both sides of it. Especially with how much we’ve missed quality pulling guards in this offense, there is something to be said for putting him at OG.

 

[arrowryan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Excited to have <a href="https://twitter.com/zekecorrell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zekecorrell</a> join the ND FB family, as he continues his families tradition of playing college football. <br><br>He understands what sacrifice and teamwork is all about. When you flip on the film he blocks with tremendous effort and competes to the echo of the whistle. <a href="https://t.co/bQcgS9gWEj">pic.twitter.com/bQcgS9gWEj</a></p>— Jeff Quinn (@CoachJeffQuinn) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachJeffQuinn/status/1075363382474227713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ever tried jumping through a brick wall?<br><br>Meet <a href="https://twitter.com/zekecorrell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZekeCorrell</a> -- you can't move this guy. Welcome to the fight! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> ☘️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FightClub19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FightClub19</a> <a href="https://t.co/ap9rQtq5EP">pic.twitter.com/ap9rQtq5EP</a></p>— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1075364034839527424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Very excited to watch OL Zeke Correll develop at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotreDame</a>. Not many as nasty as him in the entire 2019 recruiting cycle <a href="https://t.co/BxkKBRMqAg">pic.twitter.com/BxkKBRMqAg</a></p>— Jamie Uyeyama (@jamieuyeyama) <a href="https://twitter.com/jamieuyeyama/status/1075364897494421506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zeke Correll has dreamed of playing college football since kindergarten.<br><br>Watch for this guy to follow in the footsteps of some of our Irish greats.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GraduatingChampions?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GraduatingChampions</a> <a href="https://t.co/EK8WPg3Mll">pic.twitter.com/EK8WPg3Mll</a></p>— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBrianKelly/status/1075365777497354246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BobbyMac]

Had a good day at the UA practices. Biggins had him as the #4 overall offensive player on the day.

https://247sports.com/Article/Top-performers-from-Day-1-at-Under-Armour-All-American-Game-127072902/

4. OL. Zeke Correll, Cincinnati (Ohio) Anderson- Correll worked out at guard and center and looked very good. He’s very well put together and has zero bad weight on him. He’s a strong kid who plays with advanced technique, competes very hard and has just right amount of nastiness to excel in the trenches. The Notre Dame signee is rated the No. 119 prospect nationally in the 247Sports Composite.

 

[IrishLion]

This could be the starting center next year. Keep the other four guys exactly where they are for continuity, unless one of the young guys can pass Kraemer at guard.

 

[IrishLax]

This could be the starting center next year. Keep the other four guys exactly where they are for continuity, unless one of the young guys can pass Kraemer at guard.

I think they need to start over. There is no reason Hainsey should be at tackle given what he has shown the last two years. Move him inside and find a spot. Banks played well enough to earn a spot at guard. Every other position should be 100% up for grabs. They need to find a way to upgrade the two tackle positions.

 

[BabyIrish]

I think they need to start over. There is no reason Hainsey should be at tackle given what he has shown the last two years. Move him inside and find a spot. Banks played well enough to earn a spot at guard. Every other position should be 100% up for grabs. They need to find a way to upgrade the two tackle positions.

Agreed. Banks played well enough to keep his job but let the other three battle for their positions all off Season especially with all of our OL enrolling early.

 

[NDisme]

I think they need to start over. There is no reason Hainsey should be at tackle given what he has shown the last two years. Move him inside and find a spot. Banks played well enough to earn a spot at guard. Every other position should be 100% up for grabs. They need to find a way to upgrade the two tackle positions.

I wish we could get more athletic at Tackle, idk who that would be but neither Hainsey or Eich are special

 

[BabyIrish]

I wish we could get more athletic at Tackle, idk who that would be but neither Hainsey or Eich are special

Maybe the kid from California, or Lugg although they like him at guard it seems.

 

[NDisme]

Maybe the kid from California, or Lugg although they like him at guard it seems.

Patterson I think? Idk Eich seems better suited at RT than LT, I know that they like Hainsey and he was banged up most of the year, but idk.

 

[IrishLax]

Patterson I think? Idk Eich seems better suited at RT than LT, I know that they like Hainsey and he was banged up most of the year, but idk.

Yeah, you're correct, and the real problem is the "IDK" because I don't know either and I doubt these coaches know. There is no clear solution. Your returning starters are bad, and there is no evidence their backups are better.

A year ago, we had two A+ talents on the left side, a very solid center, and an A- (and that's grading harsh) talent at RG. The only hole was RT, where Hainsey graded out as one of the worst in college football by PFF and Kraemer wasn't much better. So A+/A+/B+/A-/F is going to get the job done the vast majority of the time because you can adjust for that one hole on your line to make it less of an issue.

Fast forward a year and.... well, you have a C- player at LT, a B+ player at LG with potential to be an A level player, a ? at center, a C- player at RG, and a D player at RT. Like what in the actual fuck happened on the OL? Where is the talent? Where are the players being groomed to step up? You look at the depth chart, and there is no obvious talent coming up that is going to be the answer and you almost never want to start a true freshman on the OL regardless of how good they are.

You're basically stuck praying that a healthy Eichenberg develops into a B+ player, that Banks becomes an A at LG, that Ruhland is at least a B at center, that Hainsey or Kraemer can figure out how to be a B at RG, and that some new player like Lugg or Patterson can be a B+ at RT. While that's still a huge step below 2017's line, that would at least be a top 25-50 group that would do wonders for the offense. But that requires a million things to go right. I hate being the guy who criticizes players, but this unit had obvious problems since Week 1 against Michigan and they did not get figured out as the year went along. There is no reason besides blind faith to assume they play markedly better in 2019.

 

[NDisme]

Yea I agree, nobody screams Ronnie Stanley or Zach Martin. I think this ‘19 OL class is pretty freaking talented but that doesn’t help next year. It’s going to be a patch job and we are going to have to scheme to protect them somehow.