When Washington (D.C.) St. John's College High four-star linebacker Aaron Hansford arrives at Notre Dame this weekend for his official visit, he'll step foot on campus with more than just a general idea of what he wants in a school.
Hansford, who was offered by the Irish back in June, has a checklist of what he's looking for at the next level, and based on a quick conversation with his father, it appears that Notre Dame could be a program that's more than just a fit for the family.
"We want him to have an opportunity to chase his dreams and get the best education that he could possibly have to go along with the best football experience that he could possibly have," Hansford's father, Adam Hansford, told Blue & Gold Illustrated on Tuesday.
"We definitely believe going into this with Notre Dame that they are a first class institution and we just are looking forward to learning more about them on the visit."
While strong academics and strong football program might seem like somewhat of a given for a prospect that's also considering Duke, Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State and Maryland, there's more to it than just that, and that's why the family is headed to South Bend to see the Irish face Georgia Tech.
"I think one of the most important things for us, is that every school is different," Adam Hansford said. "Academically, it's about what they have for the kids, because they have so much to balance with school and sport. It's a lot of demand. But the most important thing is we want him to be surrounded by good people and that he has the opportunity to really do well in the classroom as he prepares for his life."
Notre Dame, traditionally, has placed a strong emphasis on academics, and Adam Hansford noted that as one of the reasons why his son is excited to see what type of support staff is in place. But the course load isn't the only draw to the program. The lure of playing for a storied school like Notre Dame is a factor, as well.
"Aaron wants to be part of a program that's pursuing national championships, pursuing BCS bowl games, and are in the running to be the nation's best, because that's what he wants to bring to the table," Adam Hansford said.
"He wants to contribute to something that's legendary, and we know that Notre Dame offers that."
But so do some of the other schools chasing Hansford, and that's what makes this weekend's visit more than just important.
Notre Dame is set to return just six scholarship linebackers next season, should junior Jaylon Smith declare for the NFL Draft, which means depth will be at a premium in the middle of the defense. Hansford is a prospect that's near the top of the board at linebacker, and given his desire to find a school that is sound in both academics and football, he's a priority.
"We're not in a hurry," Adam Hansford said when asked about a possible timeline. "We want to take our time with this, because it's the most important decision at this stage in Aaron's life that he's going to make. This is a half million dollar decision in terms of the quality of his education because it's going to set him up for the rest of his life.
"We want to do this right the first time," he added. "We don't want to have any regrets or any remorse later that we didn't look throughly at things and consider all the options for him. Right now it's all about positioning him to have great success, and I'm not going to rush that process. When we feel like it's time for him to make a commitment — whether that be in a month or sometime in January — we'll know when the time is right."
The 6-2, 210-pound Hansford is an Under Armour All-American and is ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 14 outside linebacker in the country and the No. 148 prospect in the nation. He took an official visit to Michigan State this past weekend and also plans to see Oregon at some point during the process.
"I can just tell you as a parent, this is a great honor," Adam Hansford said. "We're really grateful that Notre Dame has offered Aaron and wants him to be a part of the program. We're thankful that they want use to visit and we're anticipating a great experience."
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