Purdue’s Charles Correa poised for key role in heart of defense

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — In Hawaii, family means everything. For Purdue linebacker Charles Correa, being 4,000 plus miles away from home is a little less stressful with the connection he has with Barry Odom and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Mike Scherer in West Lafayette.

The native of Kuli’ou’ou on the Island of Oahu made the move from Hawaii to Las Vegas going into his junior year of high school to attend powerhouse Bishop Gorman, where he crossed paths with Odom and Scherer on the recruiting trail. Playing his first year of college football just up the road on what he called the “ninth island” set up a move to Indiana a year later.

It was a perfect fit for both Correa and the Boilermakers.

Purdue had a need at linebacker after spring practice, bringing in Correa and fellow second year standout Sanders Ellis (Tennessee State), and the connection between Correa, Scherer and Odom made too much sense to break up despite the two ex-UNLV coaches moving halfway across the country.

“I know exactly who he is. You know, you go in the transfer world for guys that can play obviously, and check that box, then you want a guy who can come in and affect the team in a positive way. Charles career is a guy who, every day, does every single thing right from the second he wakes up to the second he goes to bed,” Scherer said.

“I know exactly what I’m getting. I know that if we, as a coaching staff, work our butts off to coach him, I know what kind of player he’s going to be. And so it was kind of a no brainer when we had a spot and we have a need who our top priority was,” Scherer said.

Beyond the connection with the coaching staff, another former Rebel landed in West Lafayette that has made for a seamless transition for the rising linebacker. Last season, he played alongside Mani Powell and once again the pair will be side-by-side in Mike Scherer’s defense, but this time will showcase their talents in the Big Ten.

Not knowing what you’re getting in the craze of the transfer portal Scherer talked about? The Purdue defensive coordinator doesn’t have to worry about that with Correa and Powell, who have already emerged as two trusted members of the linebacker corps in West Lafayette, due to the history they have with each other, and Scherer.

“They mesh really well. You know, I got a special pride for the linebacker room, and I’ll make sure those guys are extremely tight. So obviously, having the experience we have together, Mani, Charles and I over the years, there’s an extra added benefit to that,” Scherer said.

Last season was the foundation for Correa and Powell, and now the new Boilermaker linebacker tandem has the opportunity to take the next step together.

“Just getting repetition last year and now bringing it here to West Lafayette, I feel like me and Mani can just take it to the next level, with the amount of talent we have in our linebacker room. You know, whether it’s me, Mani, Alex Sanford, Sanders Ellis, there’s so many guys that are ready to play. And we brought that same communication, that same clip here, to Purdue,” Correa said.

Correa believes versatility is what he brings to the table for the Purdue defense, after playing Sam and nickel as a true freshman and now sliding in at Will, he can impact the game from a multitude of positions if need be.

“I think just being versatile, like last year, I had the opportunity to play Sam linebacker or nickel, kind of knowing what it feels like to be out in space. And now this year, playing majority in the box at the Will position, it’s special,” Correa said. “Coach Scherer can plug me in anywhere, and just being a guy where I can help the team in any way possible.”

Fresh off coaching an All-American in Jackson Woodard, Scherer hasn’t shied away from what the linebacker means to his defense and now has a strong core for his new unit in West Lafayette. A grizzled vet in Mani Powell, rising talents Sanders Ellis and Alex Sanford, and now a budding difference-maker in Correa.

“Coach Scherer himself played linebacker, and he emphasized the importance of it in this defense. You know, like some people say, we’re the quarterback of the defense, and I wholeheartedly believe that. If someone’s not lined up right, if someone does their job incorrectly, that’s on us, no matter who it is, whether it’s a D-lineman, a guy in the back, a corner, a DB, especially ourselves,” Correa said.

“It’s our job to set the front, make sure we get all the calls right, make our checks, and, more importantly, communicate amongst each other to what we think is going to be best for this situation, and executing what coach Scherer calls,” Correa said.

Powell and Correa have Mike Scherer’s trust and the latter of that tandem takes pride in being the heart of soul of the defense.