Player Bio
Hodges-Tomlinson is the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Hodges-Tomlinson was a first-team all-district pick from Midway High School in Waco. He played in all 12 games for the Horned Frogs as a true freshman in 2019, starting once (eight tackles, one pass breakup). He garnered second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2020, posting 13 pass breakups in 10 starts (also recording 26 tackles). He was a first-team all-conference selection again in 2021 after leading the team with seven pass breakups and tying for the team lead with two interceptions (41 tackles, two forced fumbles in 12 starts). Hodges-Tomlinson won the 2022 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, also picking up first-team Associated Press All-American and first-team all-conference recognition by recording 18 passes defensed (team-high three INTs, 15 pass breakups). He also posted 50 tackles, two for loss, in 15 starts. — by Chad Reuter
Analysis
By Lance Zierlein NFL Analyst
Draft Projection Round 5
NFL Comparison Duke Shelley
Overview
Hodges-Tomlinson possesses the athletic profile and ball production to become a starting nickel back. He uses aggression and explosiveness to help overcome his size deficiency. He’s twitchy and sudden to press and hound receivers underneath. However, he needs to trust his technique instead of defaulting to excessive crowding and hand-fighting that turns into penalties. He’s fully accepting of his run-support responsibilities and is generally solid in that area. Hodges-Tomlinson will face occasional size mismatches, but he’s more than capable of holding his own over the course of a season.
Strengths
- One of the more explosive athletes in the draft.
- Twitchy, agile and a voracious competitor in coverage.
- Allowed 34.6 percent completion rate when targeted in 2022, per PFF.
- Sudden feet allow him to slide and shade the release.
- Can smother short and intermediate stop routes.
- Rockets forward to attack catch point with closing burst.
- Posted 41 passes defensed in four seasons with TCU, including 18 in 2022.
- Scrappy tackler stepping downhill in run support.
Weaknesses
- Lack of size shows up against bigger targets.
- Backpedal becomes too upright at times.
- Route recognition and anticipation is average.
- Overemphasizes the physical over the technical.
- Penalized 14 times in 2022, per PFF.
- Struggles to disengage from perimeter blockers.