COLLEGE: The Dallas Cowboys took local product Stephen Hodge with their first selection of the sixth round (197th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. Hodge, a Tatum, Texas native, will make the switch from college safety to linebacker in the Cowboys 3-4 defensive scheme. He finished up his career at Texas Christian with 183 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one interception, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Hodge also made his mark on special teams while with the Horned Frogs, leading the team in his final season with 26 special teams tackles while also returning six kickoffs for 143 yards (23.8 avg.).
TRANSACTION SUMMARY:
4/26/09: Drafted in the sixth round (197th overall) by Dallas.
2008:
All-Mountain West Conference first team selection.
Played and started all 13 contests as a senior.
Finished second on the team with 81 tackles and tied for third on the squad with 10 tackles for loss.
Also had three sacks, four pass breakups, one interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Led the team with 26 special teams tackles and also returned six kickoffs for 143 yards (23.8 avg.).
Made three tackles and a forced fumble against Southern Methodist.
Recorded his first sack of the season along with six tackles and a tackle for loss at Oklahoma while also returning two kickoffs for 42 yards.
Finished with seven tackles and a fumble recovery against San Diego State.
Also had six special teams tackles against San Diego State with five in the first quarter, including the first four special teams tackles made by the Frogs.
Had six tackles and three pass breakups at Colorado State.
Led the team with 12 tackles and a tackle for loss against BYU.
Made five tackles and a tackle for loss against Wyoming.
Posted six tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and returned a kickoff 39 yards at UNLV.
Registered 10 tackles and a tackle for loss at Utah.
In the Poinsettia Bowl against Boise State, recorded 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and an interception on defense while also returning two kickoffs for 47 yards.
2007:
Second-team All-Mountain West Conference and second-team selection on Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College Team.
Had eight sacks to lead all defensive backs in the nation and finish second on the team behind defensive end Chase Ortiz (9.0). Seven of his sacks came in the final seven games.
Finished his junior year with 57 tackles - sixth on the squad - while tying for second in tackles for a loss (10.5) and pass break-ups (7) while playing in 13 games with four starts.
Named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week in his first collegiate start, a 37-0 victory over New Mexico after leading TCU with seven tackles, including a sack, and three pass breakups.
Also forced a fumble that was returned 13 yards for a touchdown by Rafael Priest.
Forced another fumble with a recovery the next game at BYU while totaling eight tackles, six solo, while adding a pass breakup against the Cougars.
Posted a career-high and team-best 11 tackles, nine solo, while combining for 1.5 sacks against UNLV.
Returned a blocked punt 31 yards for a touchdown while recording two sacks against Utah.
Registered 1.5 sacks as part of two tackles for a loss and seven stops in the win at Stanford.
Finished out the regular season with two pass break-ups and four stops at San Diego State.
Closed the year with three tackles for a loss, including a sack, in the 20-13 Texas Bowl win over Houston.
2006:
Reserve safety and special teams standout as a sophomore who made 30 tackles and a forced fumble on the year.
Had five solo tackles on kickoffs against San Diego State, helping him total a team-high and career-best nine stops in the game.
Recorded solo stops on five of the Frogs six kickoffs at Army and also forced a fumble against the Black Knights.
Had two solo tackles in the 12-3 win over Texas Tech and the 26-3 victory against Wyoming.
Closed the regular season with three tackles against Air Force.
Also recorded three stops in the 37-7 Poinsettia Bowl win over Northern Illinois.
2005:
Totaled 15 tackles, including 12 solo stops, as a true freshman.
One-of-four Horned Frogs to play as a rookie, seeing action in all 12 games.
Recorded a season-best four tackles in the 51-3 win over UNLV (Nov. 12).
Had a stop for a two-yard loss as part of three tackles in the overtime victory at BYU.
Posted at least one tackle in nine of the 12 contests.
PERSONAL:
Played quarterback and defensive back at Tatum High School in Tatum, Texas and led the Eagles to 28 wins in 38 varsity starts over three years.
Also handled the punting chores.
In three seasons, rushed for more than 4,000 yards and 51 touchdowns while passing for nearly 4,500 yards and 48 scores.
As a senior, completed 105-of-160 passes for 1,471 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions and rushed for 1,561 yards and 19 touchdowns in a 12-2 campaign to earn district MVP honors for a second time.
As a junior he rushed for more than 2,000 yards and passed for more than 1,600 yards, combining for 45 touchdowns, earning district MVP honors.
