Terry Hodges

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-foot-0 and approximately 180-185 pounds, Hodges has a lean, athletic frame with room for additional mass. His background in track, with a reported 11.0 100-meter time as an 8th grader, is evident on film in his breakaway speed. While not possessing elite size, his frame suggests he can add the necessary weight to handle a significant workload at the college level without sacrificing his explosiveness. His combine performance at the Arkansas Youth Combine, where he won awards for the fastest 40-yard dash and shuttle time, as well as the highest vertical and longest broad jump, further highlights his all-around athletic profile.

Play Style

On film, Hodges is a slasher with home-run capability. He exhibits good vision to identify running lanes and the decisiveness to hit them without hesitation. He runs with a low center of gravity, which aids his ability to break arm tackles and stay on his feet through contact. His speed is his defining trait, allowing him to be a constant threat to score from anywhere on the field. He is a patient runner who can set up his blocks before bursting into the second level of the defense.

Strengths

• **Explosive Speed:** Hodges demonstrates excellent acceleration, hitting the hole quickly and possessing the top-end speed to erase pursuit angles and consistently generate long gains. His track background is a clear asset on the football field.
• **Contact Balance & Physicality:** Despite not being a power back by size, Hodges displays impressive contact balance and a willingness to finish runs physically. He is frequently described as a physical runner who routinely breaks tackles and is difficult to bring down by a single defender.
• **Versatility:** He has shown capability as a receiver out of the backfield, with multiple touchdown receptions in high school. This three-down potential is a significant asset, allowing him to be a factor in the passing game and create mismatches.
• **Documented Production:** Hodges has a proven track record of high-level production against strong competition. As a junior, he amassed 1,752 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, followed by a productive senior season at Bryant High School, a powerhouse program in Arkansas.

Areas to Improve

• **Pass Protection:** As with most high school running backs, an area for development will be the nuances of pass protection, including blitz pickup recognition and sustaining blocks against bigger, faster collegiate defenders.
• **Adding Mass:** To withstand the rigors of the SEC and maximize his every-down potential, he will need to add functional strength and mass to his frame. A college strength and conditioning program will be critical in his early development.
• **Route Running Nuance:** While a capable receiver, refining his route-running from the backfield will elevate his game and make him a more dangerous weapon in the passing attack at the next level.

College Projection

Hodges projects as a multi-year contributor with the potential to become a starting running back in an SEC program. Given the depth chart at Arkansas, he could see early playing time on special teams and in a rotational role as a freshman. With a year in a college weight program and continued development, he has the upside to be a featured back by his second or third year, capable of handling a significant volume of touches in both the running and passing games.

NFL Outlook

As a consensus four-star prospect with verified speed and a physical running style, Hodges possesses the foundational traits that garner NFL attention. His draft potential will be heavily influenced by his collegiate production, his ability to add and maintain weight, and his development as a complete, three-down back. If he reaches his ceiling as a high-volume, productive starter in the SEC, he has the potential to be a mid-round NFL Draft selection.

Best Fit

Hodges is an excellent fit for a zone-blocking scheme that can take advantage of his vision, decisiveness, and one-cut-and-go ability. His speed also makes him a great asset in outside zone and gap schemes where he can get to the edge. A program that utilizes its running backs in the screen game and on routes out of the backfield would maximize his versatile skill set.