2021 Tennessee OL Eli Sutton Excited To Camp At Notre Dame

Clark Lea recruits his hometown of Nashville for Notre Dame and the Irish defensive coordinator liked what he saw from 2021 offensive lineman Eli Sutton‍.

“The defensive coordinator is originally from MBA (Montgomery Bell Academy), a close school right beside Brentwood Academy,” said Sutton, referring to Lea’s alma mater and his current high school, respectively.

“My dad knows him really well. He came down and said, ‘Hey, we’d love to see him at camp. We like him a lot. We’d just like to get a final look at him and see what he’s like on the field.’ My dad set it up through him.”

The 6-foot-7, 280-pounder has more than a dozen scholarship offers from schools like Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Florida, Miami, Michigan, Texas A&M and Nebraska among several others.

“It’s a whirlwind,” he acknowledged. “It’s crazy how a 17-year-old going into his junior year can have all of this type of attention and all of this hype if you will.

“Everybody is looking at you. There’s no excuse to take any sort of plays off. There’s no excuse to skip reps in the weight room. Honestly, it’s a blessing. It’s also a hidden challenge. It’s hard, but I’ve worked so hard for this that I’m ready to take any challenge on.”

Even with so many offers, Sutton was excited for the opportunity to camp and check out Notre Dame.

“The recent success their offensive line has had,” Sutton said of his interest in Notre Dame. “Two years ago, they had two guys drafted in the Top 10 with McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson. The way their o-line coach develops players is intriguing to me.”

He also noted the career of former Notre Dame kicker and Nashville native Justin Yoon.

“Which also intrigues me as well,” he said. “Speaking to people I know who have gone there, they just say it’s a special place and I’d love to check it out.”

Sutton will visit Purdue on Friday before driving up to South Bend for Saturday’s camp.

“I’d just like them to see that I’ve developed from my sophomore film,” he said. “I was in a new system and I was kind of hesitant at times because I hadn’t mastered the offense yet.

“I really want to show them I’ve grown, I’ve improved. I’m getting better. I’m just now scratching my potential, so I’m just ready to get after it.”

He’s also hoping to get a better feel for Notre Dame.

“I’d like to see how their coaching staff teaches their players,” he said. “I’d also like to see what the campus is like since I’ve never really been there. This will be my first time on campus, so this is obviously my first look at Notre Dame.”

Sutton, who will visit and camp at Wisconsin later in the month, does have some schools that are sticking out to him, but isn’t ready to disclose them just yet.

He did clearly outline the factors that will be critical to his choice.

“A, it’s a 40-year decision, not a four-year decision. What school can set me up for after football when it inevitably ends? B, is it somewhere I can live and have a good college experience that can have a good locker room feel? And C, can I win football games? That’s what I’m looking for in a college.”