Paul Limongi had a hunch at the end of last fall some significant college football offers would be coming the linebacker's way soon.
Real soon, as it turns out.
Nick Henrich had just finished his sophomore season at Omaha Burke, but that told the story of a savvy player who arrives with a purpose when it's time to plant a ballcarrier into the turf.
"I love hitting people," is how a humble Henrich tidily sums it up.
The film is worthy of notice, yes. But as the college coaches rolled into Burke's hallways for visits this offseason, Coach Limongi saw how they were just as taken by the in-person conversations with the recruit.
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It rarely failed. After an up-close talk with Henrich, there wasn't usually a delayed reaction before matters went a step further.
"Once they meet him, it's usually that night that an offer's on the table," Limongi said. "As good of a football player as he is, his character he has is just through the roof."
Now, when Henrich responded Monday to a reporter's request to chat, he did say that he'd like to do it a day later, if possible.
Fair reason, one supposes: He was taking an ACT prep course that day.
Good in the classroom and on the field, he last week became the first in-state prospect in the class of 2019 to receive a Nebraska football offer.
The Huskers have company in their pursuit of him, however. Offers already have arrived from Iowa, Minnesota, Iowa State, Ohio and South Dakota State.
And while he has lived in Omaha his entire life, it's at least worth mentioning that his father, Mike Henrich, competed in tennis for the Hawkeyes. Because of that family connection, it's true that Iowa "was kind of the first team I watched."
Henrich doesn't reveal a favorite and he was pumped about the Nebraska offer — even if he didn't necessarily expect it just now.
"It did kind of surprise me because I hadn't talked to them much other than the junior day when I was up there," Henrich said. "But it was an amazing feeling to get that offer."
There is still plenty of time to decide, since he is a 2019 recruit. The same goes for his teammate, , who is the same age and recently received an offer from Ole Miss after a visit there. Missouri also has shown its share of love.
Limongi said Nebraska hasn't been overly involved in conversations with both recruits at this point — not as much as a few other schools that have already been in the Burke hallways multiple times.
"We were kind of wondering where Nebraska was in this mix, but there's been a lot of schools that have really been impressed with both kids," the coach said.
"I think both guys are handling it very open-minded and just kind of seeing what's out there. I don't think with either one of them, this situation's too big for them."
With the first signing day opportunity for 2019 still 18 months away, Limongi said, "I don't think either one of them is going to decide for a while yet."
Henrich is currently coming back from a hamstring injury, so he probably won't camp anywhere in June. That shouldn't be much of a hindrance.
"The proof is kind of out there for them. Their film is out there a lot," the coach added. "For the number of offers they have already, I don't know what camp is going to do for them."
What the 6-4, 200-pound Henrich wants is to add a little more size to go with his speed. "This is great and all," he said of the attention, "but you really just have to keep working."
He's been working at this game since he was about 7. He's seen Hickman work awhile, too. It was around the fifth grade when he remembers first meeting him. They played on a basketball team together.
So Henrich is not surprised in the least good things are coming Hickman's way as well.
"That's my boy right there," Henrich said. "We call each other twins."
It's also a welcome thing to have someone so close going through a similar recruiting process as him.
"It's great because we really push each other every day in practice and the weight room."
There is more out there to be claimed, but to be offered by Nebraska and Iowa and other Power Five programs already before his junior season — that's already part of the dream for Henrich.
"It's really crazy," he said. "I'm just glad to be a part of it."