A young defensive back with Power 4 bloodlines in Iowa City, Abdul Hodge Jr Abdul Hodge Jr 6'0" | 165 lbs | DB Iowa City West | 2027 State IA . is one of the top defensive backs in Iowa. A long, quick DB that possesses the physical tools to play man or zone coverage, along with defending small, scatty receivers and tall, lanky X-receivers, Hodge has the makings of a Division I cornerback.

An aggressive open-field tackler despite his 165-pound size, Hodge fires off with a head of steam to bring down ball-carriers in space, closing in with straight-line speed. Solid in one-on-one coverage, too, Hodge effectively uses physicality off the line of scrimmage and his length to swat away passes in the air.

Hodge, who most recently picked up an offer from Northern Iowa in March, also holds offers from Lindenwood and South Dakota.

Iowa City’s Abdul Hodge Jr Abdul Hodge Jr 6'0" | 165 lbs | DB Iowa City West | 2027 State IA has already started to catch collegiate attention, even earning his first D1 offer from South Dakota in the fall. Abdul recorded 32.5 tackles, two TFLs, and an interception. Watching Hodge’s tape, it’s clear he’s a natural at the cornerback position with fluid mobility and good instincts in coverage. He plays with very loose hips, allowing him to drop and change direction on a dime while keeping up with receivers. Abdul does a great job using his length to get his hands up to defend passes or to pop balls out at the catch point. One aspect of Abdul’s game that may go overlooked is his strength. In several plays, he did a great job jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage, which disrupted the timing of the play. With his first offer already under his belt, it’s only a matter of time before more programs come knocking.

Hodge Jr., the son of former the Iowa linebacker of the same name, is a different defender than his father. West employs him at cornerback, where he does a nice job matching up with some of the best receivers in the state. With decent height and length, he can mix it up with the opposition in bump and run, and quickly recovers with long strides and speed. Hodge Jr.’s technique is sound, showing fluidity in the back pedal and an ability to flip his hips quickly. His frame can comfortably add mass and strength that will aid him in the future. He already performs well in run support, too. Through the nine games of the regular season, Hodge Jr. was credited with 24.0 tackles (19 solo, 1.0 TFL), adding an interception and five pass breakups.

Another son of a coach on the Iowa staff — and an Iowa legacy — Abdul “AJ” Hodge Jr. is set to see the field in a consistent role for the first time this fall.

One can tell just by watching Hodge move that he is a D1 caliber athlete. With smooth movements and fluid hips, Hodge will be looked to as a leader on the defensive side of the ball for the Trojans this fall. A natural athlete with an excellent frame and speed, Hodge has the potential to be one of the best defensive backs in the state.

It’s easy to grasp that he’s a coach’s kid, too. Always talking and hyping up his teammates, Hodge never gets too low on his guys and works to help them the best he can. Not quite at the P4 level yet, Hodge “has the work ethic to get there” according to Hartwig.

I saw Hodge in person last season when he was a sophomore at Iowa City West. I watched him again during the 2025 Back 2 Ballin 7-on-7 tournament in Cedar Falls. Both times I left the field thinking he was a work in progress. Hodge flashes high upside when he’s at his best. At other times, the fundamentals break down. That’s not an unusual scenario for younger cornerbacks. They’re still learning their strength and weakness, along with the nuances of the position. The ability is there for Hodge, as he shows during his sophomore highlight video. He has length, athleticism and instincts.