There was a time when quite a few high school football prospects emerged with strong senior seasons. Those cases have become more rare with the expedited recruiting process.

Still, players pop during their final prep campaigns. And we’re seeing it a bit more this fall after the pandemic wreaked havoc with the sport last year.

Jimmy Rolder is a senior worth noticing, and college programs are doing just that. The Class of 2022 linebacker from Chicago Marist is collecting Power 5 scholarship offers at an impressive rate.

Illinois kicked off the recent run by offering the 6-foot-2, 230-pounder on Oct. 9. His stepfather, Scott Kehoe, played for the Illini before advancing to the NFL.

Minnesota followed the next day. Then came Michigan, Purdue, Cincinnati, Iowa and TCU. Ohio State jumped in Monday night. Ball State was his lone offer before this stretch.

The Hawkeyes offered on Saturday, when Rolder and Kehoe visited campus for their game against Purdue. They made Rolder feel wanted right away.

“One thing that stood out was the coaches being so welcoming as soon as I had arrived there,” Rolder told HF.

Multiple members of the Iowa staff spent time with him.

“I was able to speak with coach (Seth) Wallace, coach (Phil) Parker and even coach (Kirk) Ferentz prior to the game, and I liked them a lot,” Rolder said.

Rolder sent out senior film to the Power 5 schools, sparking the interest. College coaches saw a big, athletic prospect capable of the playing multiple positions on the next level.

“(The Iowa coaches) are planning on using me as an inside backer or potentially off the edge,” he said.

The flurry of offers leave Rolder trying to plan more campus visits around his own football season. He realizes time is of the essence.

“I’m not exactly sure where I’m going next, but definitely somewhere for these next couple of weekends. I’m guessing my decision will not be too far into the future, especially since it’s kind of late in the process as it is,” he said.

In addition to gathering information on football programs, Rolder is trying to learn what schools offer academically. He’s considering Finance or Business majors.

“Academics are a huge factor in this process because if making it to the next level after college doesn’t work out, then my academic background will be a huge factor in my life after,” he said.