Quince Orchard Alum Johnny Hodges: From Unwanted to Undefeated

Johnny Hodges is used to being underrated and unwanted. Now he’s undefeated.

In a span of three years, Hodges has gone from being a decorated three-sport star at Quince Orchard High School with no scholarship offers from a major school to being a star linebacker at TCU, one of college football’s four remaining undefeated teams.
The journey to Fort Worth, Texas was not smooth but ultimately rewarding.

Hodges starred at Quince Orchard in football, lacrosse and basketball helping lead the Cougars to the Maryland 4A state championship in football in 2018 as an All-Met linebacker. Quince Orchard head coach John Kelley described Hodges to MyMCM as “ultra competitive, a great leader, a great player” and possessing “all the intangibles.”

After his senior season, Hodges received no offers from Power 5 schools and ended up at the Naval Academy where he played one game for the lacrosse team before COVID-19 cut the season short.

He missed football and was able to convince the coaches to give him a shot. After two seasons with the Midshipmen, including a very solid sophomore season, he decided he wanted to play for a bigger program so he entered the transfer portal where he garnered no interest.“I probably reached out to 60 college coaches, every Power Five. Not a single one responded,” Hodges said a couple of weeks ago. Then TCU head coach Sonny Dykes gave Hodges his only scholarship offer. Hodges had 14 tackles and an interception for Navy against SMU when Dykes coached there. The coach remembered.

TCU Athletics

The Darnestown native, now a junior, has quickly became one of the best players for the fourth-ranked Horned Frogs who beat Baylor Saturday on a 40-yard field goal on the game’s final play to improve to 11-0. Kelley said “I’m not surprised. He is one of the best ever” at Quince Orchard and now “he’s on national TV every week.”

Hodges is the team’s leading tackler and last week, the Darnestown native was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after TCU beat Texas on the road 17-10. Hodges totaled a team-best and season-high 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss against their in-state rivals. He combined on a fourth-down tackle for no gain on a 4th-and-1 play on the Longhorns’ opening drive. Hodges led a TCU defense that held Texas’ offense to three points and 199 total yards, the Longhorns’ lowest total in a Big 12 home game.
Next up for TCU is a home game against Iowa State Saturday at 4 p.m. It’s their regular season finale before the Big 12 Championship.
(Photos courtesy of TCU Athletics)

nov 30 fundraiser graphic describing MCM's Party with a Purpose


Write a Comment

Related Articles