New Penn State commit Fred Hansard among U.S. National Team players to watch in January

By Steve Alic | Posted 1/30/2016

Approached by college programs with scholarships like menswear salesmen slide sports coats onto prospective customers, Fred Hansard has earned national attention.

The 6-foot-4, 304-pound defensive tackle, who recently switched his commitment from Florida to Penn State, rips apart quarterbacks’ pockets and tears holes into offensive lines to apply deep grass stains on ball carriers’ backs.

“Not many kids have his size and speed,” says Todd Smith, Hansard’s head coach at The Hun School (Princeton, N.J.). Thirty (30) colleges offered Hansard a football scholarship. “He’s a tremendous individual – a leader on and off the field. He’s got a great sense of humor and he’s not afraid to go to work and motivate his teammates.

“He does a tremendous job in the classroom and he’s prepared himself for college and the rest of his life.”

Fred HansardRarely are offenses prepared to neutralize Hansard, who will play for the U.S. Under-19 National Team against Team Canada at the North American Championship in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 28 at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. In eight games this season, Hansard notched 51 tackles along the line of scrimmage, including 14 for losses along with three forced fumbles.

In his three years at Hun, Hansard and his Raiders teammates have earned three state championships while losing a grand total of one game.

“I am super excited to play for our country,” said Hansard. “I expect great competition from Canada – I know that they’ll bring it every down and I am so ready for it.”

A dominant player and team captain, one of Hansard’s strongest traits is his desire to improve.

“I feel my pass rush moves need to get better,” he said. “My hands have gotten quicker in the past year and as a defensive lineman, that’s really important.”

Smith adds that Hansard, who also played on the offensive line, consistently rises to the occasion.

“We played a number of really good teams at The Hun and no matter who’s on our schedule, he plays his best against everyone,” Smith said. “I’m sure he looks forward to playing against kids of similar caliber in Orlando.”

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Other players to watch:

U.S. Under-18 National Team

Dillon SpaldingReceiver Dillon Spalding of South County (Lorton, Va.) helped his Stallions (8-4) reach the second round of the Virginia High School Football Playoffs with a 1,000-yard receiving season, catching 67 passes for 1,069 yards and a whopping 14 TDs. Fresh off the heels of his junior season, the 6-2, 200-pounder has already been offered scholarships by N.C. State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee and Virginia Tech. Spalding has lifted his game from a “chain-mover” to an explosive offensive threat who runs smooth in and out of breaks with fluid change of direction. Spalding promises to be a significant part of the U.S. air attack when taking on Team Canada at the North American Championship in Orlando on Jan. 28.

U.S. Under-17 National Team


Bailey ElderAt 6-5, 285 pounds, offensive lineman Bailey Elder of Stadium (Tacoma, Wash.) will be a handful for Team Japan to confront at International Bowl VIII on Jan. 16 at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. Able to play either tackle or guard position, Elder is a super-sized, punishing blocker who relishes getting his hands on defenders and pushing them to the ground. A unique combination of brute strength and athleticism, Elder finishes plays and is rarely off his feet. A standout at the U.S. National Team National Development Games, the high school sophomore battles autism, refusing to place limits on his dreams or abilities.

U.S. Under-16 National Team

Dante GirardiRunning back Dante Girardi, a New York native, possesses the strength to break tackles and shiftiness to make would-be tacklers miss. Measuring 5-9, filled with 170 pounds of toughness, the high school freshman runs with a style all his own. Even-keeled and quiet, the son of N.Y. Yankees manager Joe Girardi lets his play speak for him in a professional, self-confident manner. Girardi represents one-third of a high-powered trio of Under-16 National Team rushers alongside Kendall Milton of Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.) and Isaiah Bibb of Clear Springs (League City, Texas). Milton and Bibb return from last year’s International Bowl where they rushed for 242 yards and 158 yards, respectively, for five combined TDs. The three ball carriers seek to break through Team Ontario on Jan. 17 at International Bowl VIII.

Click here to join these top athletes and tryout for the U.S. National Team program

 

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