Pitt is in a "good spot" with 4-star DT

The No. 5 defensive tackle prospect in the 2017 class took his first visit to Pitt on Saturday, and the Panthers made a favorable impression on him.

"They're in a good spot," Princeton (NJ) Hun School defensive tackle Fred Hansard told Panther-Lair.com after his visit. "Real good."

Hansard's visit featured a tour of Pitt's facilities, some individual time with defensive line coach Tom Sims and an academics presentation. But the four-star prospect also got some one-on-one time with head coach Pat Narduzzi, as the two rode together on the bus trip from Pitt's football facilities to the Petersen Events Center to watch the Panthers' basketball team take on Virginia.

"Really one of the coolest coaches I know," Hansard said of Narduzz. "(I) was with him most of the day; (Narduzzi) made real clear that I was important for them."

Hansard said that Narduzzi and Sims talked with him about the importance of picking the right position coach in addition to a school that fits; to that end, Hansard liked his interaction with Sims.

"Coach Sims just really kept it real with me," he said. "(I) can tell he's a great coach."

No fewer than 25 schools have offered Hansard, including Alabama, Arizona State, Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Miami (FL), Michigan, Mississippi, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCLA, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.

The No. 89 prospect in the nation and the No. 2 recruit in the state of New Jersey for the class of 2017, Hansard said that he doesn't currently have a favorite, but he likes a lot of what he has seen from Pitt.

"I know a good amount about the tradition," he said. "They're really cool (and) they show a lot of love."

Up next for Hansard is a visit to Rutgers this week.