It’s important for a school to make a good early impression in recruiting. That responsibility often falls to the lead recruiter for a given area. He most frequently makes initial contact with a prospect.

Iowa appears to be putting its best foot forward with Fred Hansard, a highly-pursued 2017 prospect from New Jersey. Assistant Chris White is building the relationship there.

"I have interest in them. I’m interested in their program and what they’re all about. I know that they are a team that is really trying to get that national championship. And Coach White is such a cool dude," Hansard said.

At 6-foot-3, 315 pounds, Hansard stands out in a crowd, especially when you consider he’s only halfway through his high school career at The Hun School in Princeton, NJ. Former Iowa offensive lineman Nolan MacMillan is a graduate of the school.

In 2014, Hansard accumulated 34 tackles, 23 of which were for loss. He added five sacks, five quarterback hurries, a blocked punt and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Hansard already reports scholarship offers from Iowa, Miami (FL), North Carolina, Ohio State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple and Virginia Tech. Plenty of other major programs are involved.

"I just continue to stay humbled and blessed," Hansard said of the early attention.

With recruiting off to such a strong start, Hansard wants to familiarize himself with the schools showing him interest. He’ll get out for visits this summer, he said,

"I’m definitely going to get out to Iowa, but I also want to see Miami, UNC, Arizona State, Michigan State and Penn State," he said.