Hodges one of Peach States top RBs

Junior to Watch: Cedric Hodges

School: Warner Robins (Ga.) Houston County HS

Position: Running Back/Safety

Size and speed: Hodges is 6-foot-1, weighs 181 pounds, and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds.

Statistics: As a junior, Hodges rushed for 1,399 yards and 19 touchdowns in 10 games. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry.

Honors: Was named to the all-county team as a junior.

Favorite Schools: Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee.

Skinny: One of the more dynamic running backs in the Peach State this season should be Houston County’s Cedric Hodges.

The 6-foot-1, 181-pound Hodges followed a promising sophomore sneak preview (580 yards in three games) with a 1,399-yard, 19-touchdown performance as a junior to firmly place his name on many recruiting lists.

“He’s your typical great athlete at that position,” Houston County coach Doug Johnson said. “He’s a kid who can really run. He sees the field well and is a good cut-back runner. He’s also a little stronger, a little more powerful than people realize when they go to tackle him. He breaks a lot of first and second hits. He’s got real nice hands, too, even though we don’t throw the ball a whole lot. Those will help him more at the next level.”

Hodges is being recruited primarily as a running back, but Johnson said some coaches like him as a safety as well.

“That could end up being his better position in college,” he said. “They really like the way he moves, his hands, and the fact that he doesn’t mind mixing it up. He’s a pretty physical kid, just what you look for in a safety.”

Schools showing early interest include Georgia, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

“Just about everybody in the South,” Johnson said. “I just talked to Florida and Alabama today, so we can add them to the list, too.”

The home state Bulldogs are Hodges' early favorite.

Academics may be a factor with Hodges, according to Johnson, who noted he’d likely have several scholarship offers if his grades were in better standing.

“He’s pretty capable, but he had some bad habits that have put his GPA in a little bit of a hole,” he said. “He scored an 880 on his PSAT, so we think he’ll be OK there, but once that GPA gets low, it’s hard to bring it up. He’s going to go to summer school and try to work on it.”