Cody Hodges
Encyclopedia
Cody Hodges is a philanthropist, motivational speaker, and former professional American football
player, playing in the National Football League
, Arena Football League
. Hodges is best known for his one season as the starting quarterback
for the Texas Tech Red Raiders
during the 2005 season
. He led the team to the Cotton Bowl Classic and a 9–3 overall record. He was the 3rd straight fifth year senior to start for Mike Leach and Texas Tech and was also the second West Texas native to take the Quarterback reigns in the Leach era, along with predecessor Sonny Cumbie
.
his first year at Texas Tech
in 2001 and played in a total of seven games the next three years before becoming the starter for his senior year.
, ranked #18 in the AP Poll
and #1 in total offense, to the 2006 Cotton Bowl Classic to play the #13 Alabama Crimson Tide
, ranking #1 in scoring defense and #2 in total defense. Hodges, statistically, had his worst game as a starter, completing only 15 of 32 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown. He was also Tech's leading rusher, gaining 66 yards on 17 carries. Texas Tech eventually lost 13-10 and ended the season with a 9–3 overall record and #20 in the AP Poll.
, Hodges went undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft
. However, Hodges was signed and later released by the Tennessee Titans
. He came second to the top pick of the Tennessee Titans
Vince Young
.
of af2
. Hodges was named the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game during Week 1 of the af2 season for his performance against the Green Bay Blizzard
. He later ended his season due to injury.
, an organization dedicated to abolishing prejudice
and promoting kindness and good deeds, was inspired to join the organization as a speaker at age 20.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, playing in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
. Hodges is best known for his one season as the starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
during the 2005 season
2005 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the least amount of controversy surrounding the Bowl Championship Series title game in many years.To an extent it was a return to classic football...
. He led the team to the Cotton Bowl Classic and a 9–3 overall record. He was the 3rd straight fifth year senior to start for Mike Leach and Texas Tech and was also the second West Texas native to take the Quarterback reigns in the Leach era, along with predecessor Sonny Cumbie
Sonny Cumbie
Sonny Jack Cumbie is an American football Assistant Coach for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, serving as Inside Receivers Coach...
.
College career
Hodges redshirtedRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his first year at Texas Tech
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
in 2001 and played in a total of seven games the next three years before becoming the starter for his senior year.
2005
Hodges won the starting job for the 2005 season, beating out redshirt freshman Graham Harrell. He started out the year in stellar fashion, putting up big time numbers in blowout wins over Florida International 56-3, Indiana State 63-7, and Sam Houston State 80-21. Hodges drew controversy for saying that he believed Tech's offense was good enough to "score 100 points." Big 12 play started and he led the Red Raiders to wins over Kansas 30-20, and then had the best game of his career, throwing for 646 yards in a 59-20 win over Kansas State. Tech then went to Lincoln Nebraska where he threw a 23 yard touchdown pass to Joel Filani with less than 20 seconds to snap Nebraska's 36 year homecoming winning streak. Then Hodges faced off with # 1 Texas Longhorns and Vince Young, Hodges had the Raiders in an early lead in Austin, but could not keep up the momentum as Tech suffered their first loss, 52-17. Then came wins over rivals Baylor 28-0, and Texas A&M 56-17. A signature moment came when Hodges threw a 10 yard completion to his twin brother, Inside Receiver Slade Hodges, and later witnessed his brother catch a touchdown pass from Graham Harrell. Tech was later upset by Oklahoma State 24-17, but Tech rebounded to defeat Oklahoma 23-21 in another close and exciting game, giving the Red Raider a regular season record of 9-2, and a Big 12 record of 6-2, giving them second place overall and an invitation to the Cotton Bowl. Hodges led the nation in passing, making him the 4th consecutive Tech QB to lead the nation in passing.Cotton Bowl Classic
Hodges led the 9-2 (6-2 in Big 12 play) Red RaidersTexas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University . The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 15 varsity sports and 30 club sports...
, ranked #18 in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
and #1 in total offense, to the 2006 Cotton Bowl Classic to play the #13 Alabama Crimson Tide
2005 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2005 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the team's 73rd season in the SEC...
, ranking #1 in scoring defense and #2 in total defense. Hodges, statistically, had his worst game as a starter, completing only 15 of 32 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown. He was also Tech's leading rusher, gaining 66 yards on 17 carries. Texas Tech eventually lost 13-10 and ended the season with a 9–3 overall record and #20 in the AP Poll.
Tennessee Titans
Despite a successful 2006 season2006 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
The 2006 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the college football season of 2006–2007. The team was coached by Mike Leach. The Red Raiders played their home games at Jones SBC Stadium in Lubbock, Texas....
, Hodges went undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. However, Hodges was signed and later released by the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. He came second to the top pick of the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
Vince Young
Vince Young
Vincent Paul Young, Jr. , nicknamed "VY", is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He spent the first five seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans. Young was the third overall draft pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college...
.
Fort Wayne Fusion
In 2007, Hodges was the quarterback for the Fort Wayne FusionFort Wayne Fusion
The Fort Wayne Fusion was a 2007 af2 expansion team in the Midwest Division of the American Conference. They played their home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which was the former home of the defunct National Indoor Football League/United Indoor Football...
of af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
. Hodges was named the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game during Week 1 of the af2 season for his performance against the Green Bay Blizzard
Green Bay Blizzard
The Green Bay Blizzard is a professional indoor football team, which was founded in 2003. The Blizzard began play in the Indoor Football League in 2010, after having played the previous seven seasons in af2, in the now defunct the minor league of the Arena Football League. The Blizzard play in...
. He later ended his season due to injury.
Rachel's Challenge Work
Hodges, having viewed a presentation from Rachel's ChallengeRachel's Challenge
Rachel's Challenge is a non-profit, non-religious, non-political organization. It is led by Rachel Scott's father, Darrell, along with Rachel Scott's step-mom, Sandy.-Darrell Scott and Rachel's Challenge:...
, an organization dedicated to abolishing prejudice
Prejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
and promoting kindness and good deeds, was inspired to join the organization as a speaker at age 20.