SIGNED: OL Zeke Correll

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Cincinnati Anderson offensive lineman Zeke Correll has submitted his National Letter of Intent to Notre Dame.

Rivals: 4.0 stars (No. 4 player in Ohio, and No. 6 offensive guard and No. 95 overall player nationally)
BGI Grade: 4.0 (top-150 player)
Upside Grade: 4.5

SENIOR SEASON: Helped pave the way for Anderson to average 33.1 points per game in 2018.
JUNIOR SEASON: Anderson averaged 40.6 points and 400.2 yards per contest.

• Will play in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game.
• 2018 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association first-team Division II All-Ohio selection.
• 2018 first team-team All-ECC selection.
• Selected to ALL-USA Ohio first-team offense by USA Today High School Sports in 2017.
• 2017 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association (OPSWA) All-Ohio Division II first-team selection.
• 2017 first-team All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference selection.

Power Five Offers: Clemson, Duke, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin

Notre Dame first entered the mix for Correll in October 2017 after a game visit (North Carolina State) and became a top contender from the start.

Former offensive line coach Harry Hiestand departing for the NFL did cause some concern from Correll in regards to the Irish due to the relationship he had built with Hiestand. But Jeff Quinn impressed the Ohioan upon being hired and was able to gain back any momentum the Irish had lost at that time.

Correll returned to South Bend multiple times this spring to check out the Irish program including for Junior Day March 3 and an April spring practice.

It seemed Notre Dame began to take the lead for the talented interior lineman this spring with those visits and didn’t look back.

Following his spring visits, Correll narrowed his recruitment down to Notre Dame, Ohio State, Clemson and Stanford. The four-star prospect visited Stanford in June for an unofficial before arriving in South Bend the next week for an official. That trip sealed the deal. Just one day after the trip, Correll announced his intentions to commit to the Irish June 18.

• Will enroll early at Notre Dame.
• Set to begin his career at center.
• One of nine children.

Senior Trevor Ruhland is expected to start at center next season and current freshman Luke Jones is working at the position as well. Enrolling early should give Correll a chance to jump immediately into the competition at the position, and his ability to rise up the depth chart will be determined by how quickly he can adapt to snapping and blocking.

Notre Dame is recruiting Correll as a center/guard prospect, and his game took major steps forward as a senior. He has exploded up the rankings with Rivals, going from an unranked four-star recruit when the season began to a Rivals100 prospect after he completed his senior campaign.

Correll has a frame that is ideally suited for the center position. He isn’t as tall as the other commits in the class — listed at just 6-4 — but he has good length for a player his size. That is perfect at center, where you ideally don’t want a taller player, but his length (arms) will be an asset inside as both a run blocker and pass blocker. He has a thick lower half and after some time in the strength program at Notre Dame he will become a physical force.

Along with good natural strength and power, Correll is also a feisty player and a competitive blocker. He likes to mix it up and when Anderson really got going with its ground attack he seemed to be at his best. He plays with a good base, he has good power in his legs and when he keeps his technique right he is an excellent finisher in the run game. At times he will catch a defender, but when he fires off with attitude and delivers punishment he’s outstanding.

Correll is an athletic blocker, which is perfect for the inside of the line. He explodes out of his stance and does a really good job playing with good pad level, which is an area where his lack of height serves him well. He constantly beats defenders off the ball and he is so quick and fluid that he is able to quickly change direction to handle fast blitzes and line stunts. He is also really fast getting around as a puller, which is perfect for the Irish offense.

The Anderson star has the tools to become an elite pass blocker inside.

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