Film Don't Lie: Quinn Carroll
A year after struggling to gain traction with their top offers up front, Notre Dame has flipped that around in 2019 with new offensive line coach Jeff Quinn. They just added their third O-line recruit in this cycle and he’s one of the top prospects in the nation at his position.
Quinn Carroll is currently ranked #44 in the ISD Fab 50 and I have him ranked as the sixth best offensive lineman in the class. A people mover with great pop on contact, the Irish running game should keep rolling along with someone like Carroll helping to open up holes.
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 290
Projected Position: Swing candidate at right tackle or guard
ISD Grade: 95 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 94.4 (4-star)
What he does best:
Caroll is a powerful run blocker. That may seem pretty obvious that he would be because of his size, but there are plenty of O-line prospects his size that aren’t.
He has a great base and uses leverage to generate that power as a run blocker. He has great knee bend and will get underneath the pads of his opponents to move them at the point of attack.
This down block from him is crushing. It’s what it frequently looks like when he is run blocking. He gets that initial pop then continues his leg drive to finish with a pancake.
He does a nice job of not only getting to the second level, but continuing to work to sustain his blocks there. Carroll works the double team with the guard here before getting off to pick up the linebacker on the zone play.
It’s not just a one hit situation either. The effort to keep working and stick with his man is awesome.
There is plenty of nasty to his game as well. He’s either really good at faking it or he really enjoys putting people on the ground and then getting in a little something extra with his full body weight like on this pull with him lined up at right guard.
What I’ve seen from him as a run blocker, Carroll appears to be very well coached and he won’t require as much refinement as many other young offensive linemen do when they get to the next level.
What he needs to improve:
Carroll is mobile and there are instances where he gets out and locks on against a defender in space, but I wouldn’t say he is a great athlete. He has to be really under control and get right with his steps to excel in that area.
There is not much film available of him in pass protection. That’s probably in part because it’s not as highlight worthy to watch someone do that rather than put a defender in the dirt. What is available is limited so it’s tough to evaluate him in that area.
This is one of the few plays you see from him and it’s not enough to say how he will project.
There hopefully will be more to evaluate him on with senior film and from seeing him in a camp setting.
What’s his ceiling?
I think he is a very similar prospect to current Notre Dame guard Tommy Kraemer back when he was a rising senior. Kraemer is someone that has now kicked inside to guard although he was solid in his first year at tackle last season.
I think Carroll will likely start at right tackle, but could end up at guard for the Irish depending on how he develops in pass protection. Wherever he ends up, I think he can be an elite run blocker at the next level. The kind of player that mauls people at the point of attack.
Given his size and the functional strength he already displays on the field, Carroll should be able to come in and compete fairly early in his career and has the potential be a high level starter for multiple seasons.