He was born in the Gelibolu district of Çanakkale. He completed his secondary education at Konya Gazi High School. In 1996, he graduated from Selçuk University, Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of History. He gained his first teaching experience in Konya between 1996 and 1999 under the Ministry of National Education. In 2004, he completed his master’s degree at Selçuk University, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Turkish Republic History, in the field of Atatürk’s Principles and History of Reforms. He completed his military service in Ardahan in 2005. He earned his PhD at Hacı Bayram Veli University, Graduate School of Education, Department of History, Turkish Republic History Program.

He actively served in various non-governmental organizations for many years, including the Atatürkist Thought Association, TEMA Foundation, Taşeli (Ermenek-Sarıveliler-Başyayla) Culture and Solidarity Association, and the Yörük Türkmen Foundation. Zorlu has been working as a lecturer in the Department of Turkish Republic History at Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University for approximately 19 years, during which he also held various administrative positions. He has taken part as a speaker in numerous congresses and symposiums on Kemalism, Republican economic policies, and Modern Political History.

He was elected Mayor of Ermenek in the local elections held on March 31, 2019. He also served as President of the Taşeli Union of Mayors. On August 28, 2023, he was appointed as a Department Head at Ankara Metropolitan Municipality. As of April 5, 2024, he has been serving as Deputy Mayor of Keçiören Municipality. Zorlu is married with two children and has an intermediate command of English.