Fast-rising CB Nick Hankins gives a glimpse into first Notre Dame visit
Before Chad Bowden bounced for Southern Cal, Notre Dame football’s former general manager had a headstart in the recruitment of one of the fastest-rising defensive backs in the Midwest.
Bowden scouted Nick Hankins, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound cornerback from Belleville (Ill.) Belleville West. Before Bowden conversed with Hankins about a month ago, the preps junior only held an offer from five Power Four programs. Since the January recruiting contact period began, he has added nine more.
His climb has been so fast that On3 has not had the chance to rate him. However, 247Sports considers him a three-star prospect who ranks as the No. 42 cornerback nationally and the No. 12 player in Illinois.
Despite Bowden’s departure, Notre Dame still hosted Hankins on campus for Saturday’s junior day. He was one of 18 football recruits in South Bend but the only defensive back. As a result, Notre Dame gave him a unique opportunity to spend plenty of time with Mike Mickens. The fifth-year Fighting Irish defensive backs coach made a big impression.
“I got great energy from him,” Hankins told Blue & Gold.
He received that vibe during a personalized meeting with Mickens and their time together throughout the day. The meeting was perhaps the most important because they talked about defensive schemes and life outside of football.
Hankins said he resonated with Mickens’ ‘DMM’ motto — which stands for ‘deny my man’ — because it accurately depicts his game. You don’t get offers from schools like Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin by letting receivers run past you.
“That relates to my position and anything in football,” he said. “Especially if you’re on the defensive side.”
In addition to his time with Mickens, Hankins mentioned head coach Marcus Freeman’s message to the recruits and their families as an influential part of the visit. Surprisingly, Hankins said Freeman did not talk much about playing in the national championship game five days earlier.
“They showed a video, and the video didn’t have anything about the national championship in it,” he said. “I think they were just trying to stay humble with that part.”
Hankins experienced a hint of humility after his visit because he left campus with a Notre Dame offer. Still, with the spring evaluation period just around the corner, the Irish could end up extending one. And if they do, they would have a leg up in his recruitment.
“There is a lot of interest,” Hankins said. “They just came off a runner-up in the natty, so what football player wouldn’t want to play with a team that just made it to the national championship?”
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