Sunday, April 26, 2009

Cowboys #197: Cowboys select OLB/SS Stephen Hodge in sixth round

Source: 2009 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile
Stephen Hodge, DS #19 OLB, TCU

Draft Scout Snapshot: DS Rating on 8/24/08: #16 SS, #399/750 Overall, Projected Rnd: FA
2007: 13 GP; 4 GS; 43 Sol-57 TT, 10.5 TFL, 8 SK, 7 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FR, 2 FF; Arrested in April 2007 for unlawful carrying of a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm…case eventually dismissed. Police report said Henson had a handgun, then handed it to teammate Stephen Hodge who fired several rounds into the air. Led the nation in sacks by a defensive back with eight ... had seven sacks in the final seven games ... second-team All-Mountain West Conference ... was also a second-team selection on Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College Team ... placed second on TCU in sacks, trailing only defensive end Chase Ortiz (9.0) ... tied for second in tackles for a loss (10.5) and pass break-ups (7) ... took part in both defensive and special teams touchdowns ... started the final five games ... his 57 tackles on the year, which placed sixth on the Frogs, surpassed the total of 45 from his first two seasons combined ...2006: 12 GP; 0 GS; 25 Sol-30 TT, 1 FF; Reserve safety and special teams standout... had five solo tackles on kickoffs against San Diego State, helping him total a team-high and career-best nine stops in the game... 2005: 12 GP; 0 GS; 12 Sol-15 TT, 1 TFL; Totaled 15 tackles, including 12 solo stops, as a true freshman... one of four Horned Frogs to play as a rookie... saw action in all 12 games... brother, Anthony, played football at Baylor.

03/10/09 - Former Tatum Eagle quarterback Stephen Hodge has a very real shot at becoming a pro. Over the weekend, Hodge was a big reason why TCU had the largest number of NFL scouts assembled for the school's pro day. Hodge participated in the NFL combine but took advantage of another chance to wow NFL teams. Despite predicitions he could be a fifth or sixth round pick in this year's draft, Stephen still has some anxiety about the next seven weeks. "Nervous," Stephen said. "I'm just hoping that something comes through, hoping to get a phone call. But if I don't, I'll go free agent, just be ready to play when I get to minicamp." "I feel real good about what I did today," Stephen said of his Pro Day workout. "I just gave the scouts more to look at because I can play different positions which gives me a better chance of making it to the NFL. I feel real comfortable. It was no pressure coming in to today. It was more pressure at the NFL combine. By now, coming here just doing drills it was a lot of pressure off of me." The NFL Draft is April 25-26. - KLTV, Tyler, Texas

03/06/09 - Eleven members of TCU's 2008 senior class participated in the Horned Frogs' Pro Day on Friday inside the team's weight room and the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility. A combined total of 40 scouts and general managers, representing 26 National Football League teams, were in attendance. TCU's Pro Day also generated strong media coverage with all five television stations in the Dallas/Fort Worth market present along with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Morning News, NFL.com and Rivals.com. The following players participated in the Frogs' Pro Day: running back Aaron Brown, safety Steven Coleman, linebacker Robert Henson, safety Stephen Hodge, offensive guard Giles Montgomery, defensive tackle Cody Moore, offensive tackle Heath Raetz, tight end Shae Reagan, center Blake Schlueter, defensive tackle James Vess and running back Justin Watts. Linebacker Jason Phillips worked out previously for scouts at the NFL Combine. Hodge, a two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection in the secondary, also took part in running back drills. During his eight-year tenure as TCU's head coach, Gary Patterson has had 16 players drafted and 36 in NFL camps. - TCU football

02/23/09 - Stephen Hodge was a standout safety at TCU, but most teams he’s interviewed with are talking to him about being a weakside linebacker. "It depends on the scheme of the defense," said Hodge, a first-team All-Mountain West Conference pick last season. "I just want to play in the NFL. I don’t care what position I play." NFL teams have asked Hodge about his arrest in April 2007 for unlawfully carrying a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm, even though the case was dismissed. "It was a mistake that I made," Hodge said. "I owned up to it. I made the mistake. It was done. I embarrassed my mom, my family, my teammates and my coaches. Most of all, I just embarrassed myself. I really don’t make bad decisions, and once I made that bad decision, people are like, 'This guy makes bad decisions all the time,’ which, that’s not me. I had to rebuild my character, and it took a long time, but I’m back, and I’m ready." - Charean Williams, Star-Telegram