2019 WorldWide Rams Draft Profile: Khalil Hodge | Buffalo | LB

WorldWide Rams

Ed "Pi Double i" Henderson

​Khalil Hodge
LB
HOMETOWN              |            CLASS
Antioch, CA             |            Senior

DRAFT YR:  2019     COMBINE INVITE: NO

Player Bio: Khalil Hodge a California native who grew up in Antioch, CA where he starred as a prep in football. His freshman year, he attended the nation's powerhouse De La Salle High School. However, after a family decision, Hodge transferred to St. Mary's High School in Stockton, California. Hodge played three seasons at St. Mary's, and during his senior year, he achieved the improbable. Hodge astonishingly would lead the NATION with an unbelievable amount of 262 tackles. During his senior campaign, Hodge would record 22 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception against Buhach Colony High School in Atwater, CA. Despite Hodges success at the prep level, unfortunately, his great statistics and talent did not transition well to the Division 1 recruiters. Hodge only received offers from two FCS schools, Weber St in Utah and local Sacramento St. Hodge declined those offers after following his instincts of attending a JUCO and provide more exposure on film of his talented production as a linebacker at the next level. He chose to enroll at City College of San Francisco, a California JC that previously won nine national championships. Hodge not only attended CCSF, he also won the starting middle linebacker job that finished the season with a 12-1 record and crowned National Champions. At this point, the University of Buffalo were seriously in search for a middle linebacker until they watched Hodges film. After reviewing Hodge's game film, they knew they found that player to fill their void. Hodge attended the University of Buffalo and became an immediate starter as he was named Two-time All-MAC linebacker. His junior year he would finish second in the nation with 154 tackles. However, shortly after his junior season, Hodge received some tragic new back in California. Hodge tragically learned that someone murdered his younger brother Kadeem. Khalil and Kadeem were very close growing up as kids and looked up to each other. The lost of his younger brother did not stop Hodge's journey to the next level but only help intensify his efforts. Hodge vowed and dedicated the 2018 season to his brother after finish 4-10 on the year. The team accepted the challenge along with Hodge where it paid off as the Bulls ended 10-4 on the season. Despite Hodge's prominent senior year and successful career at Buffalo, however, the 2019 NFL Combine committee seemed not to be impressed with his efforts. Many NFL analyst and coaches were confused of the fact that Hodge did not receive a combine invite. Here we have a player who recorded three consecutive 100-plus tackles in the year and finished his career with 426 tackles in three seasons. However, some scouts felt that it was justifiably so as Hodge did not help his cause at Buffalo's Pro Day. Hodge had an abysmal performance all-around, his poor forty of 5.02 seconds (hamstring tightness), bench press only of 16 reps, 29-inch vertical, and 109-inch broad jump. We have known Hodge for most of his life and unbiasedly speaking despite his poor performance, no player has the dedication and put forth the hard work to be better than Hodge. As a five-year-old, his father Howard Hodge (former coach) had him at the park working on calisthenics, footwork, and obstacle drills. He has a gift on the football as being a "tackling machine."
Hopefully, there will be one team that will overlook his pro day numbers and give him a shot at what he does best on the field with making tackles. Not long ago Buffalo saw another Khalil (Mack) enter the NFL draft, and he’s a superstar, and the current Khalil expects to follow the same pathway. 
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​Accolades
2018 Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List
2018 All-MAC First Team
2017 All-MAC First Team
2017 MAC East Defensive Player of the Week (2)
2016 All-MAC Second Team

KHALIL HODGE CAREER STATS
         STATS  TOT   SOLO    AST   SACK    FF    FR    YDS    INT    YDS    AVG    TD    LNG    PD    STF    STF    YDS    
2018      144      58        86         2.5       1       0        0        1        33      33.0      0       33       3        0         0         0
2017      153      66        87          3         2       0        0        2          0        0.0      0         0       2        0         0         0
2016      123      61        62          1         0       0        0        0          0        0.0      0         0       0        0         0         0

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​Khalil Hodge
Line-Backer
SCHOOL:  BUFFALO      |      CONFERENCE:  MAC      
HEIGHT/WEIGHT:  6- 1¾ " / 235         ARMS:          HANDS:        40: 4.85 
            

COMBINE RESULTS
BENCH |   40 YD DASH  |   VERTICAL JUMP  |  BROAD JUMP |   3 CONE DRILL   |   
20 YD SHUTTLE  |   60 YD SHUTTLE
​   N/A     |          N/A          |              N/A              |           N/A          |            N/A             |             N/A              |             N/A

PRO-DAY RESULTS
BENCH  |   40 YD DASH  |   VERTICAL JUMP  |  BROAD JUMP |   3 CONE DRILL   |    20 YD SHUTTLE  |   60 YD SHUTTLE
​     16     |         5.03          |          29 1/4"            |           109"         |             7.21            |                4.40          |             N/A
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Game Film:
#4 Khalil Hodge vs. Temple (2018)

Strengths: A cerebral player that identifies offensive formations and RPO plays. A great nose for the football that is always around the ball. A very good tackler that demonstrates excellent quickness and instincts in run defense. The ability to fire out to ball carriers at the point of attack making the tackles. Ability to make plays in the box. Ability to spin off blocks and athletic enough to still make tackles inside gaps. Uses his hands good and avoid blocks in pursuit ball carrier and dip under to make the tackle. Has good lateral pursuit from hash to hash. Adequate pass rush and the presence in mind of not hitting lately on quarterbacks. ​

Weaknesses: Speed is now a major concern after poor time at pro day. Lacks the sideline-to-sideline speed but still manages to make a play. At the next level will be tested in the passing game with one-on-one coverage with faster backs; challenging if a true three-down linebacker. Needs to get stronger, stout lower body is excellent but will benefit with upper-body strength. Length is questionable has shorter arms than the average positional player. Struggles to shed head-on blocks by bigger blockers staying glued to long to develop quicker rip moves. Need to avoid the lower pad level tackles and deliver more pop at the next level.
​
Draft Grade: 4.98 

​Draft Projection: 6th - UDFA

Does He Fit?: Yes- Sliding from one of the top pre-season linebackers to watch to watching his stock slide significantly, he is now likely destined as a Day 3 selection or UDFA. Hodge remains as one of my most underrated players entering the 2019 NFL Draft. Setting aside the poor pro day stats, one thing you can't take away is his ability to make tackles. Rams can benefit from his tackling ability in a 3-4 scheme concept. Wade Phillips and John Barry can help his game rise even further in situational play. Maybe a short time project, however, will make many big plays at the next level with years to arrive.

​NFL Comparison:  Mason Foster

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