Abdul Hodge | Linebacker | Iowa | 6'0" - 236 lbs.
OVERVIEW
College's version of Baltimore's Ray Lewis, Abdul has been a sensational leader for the
Hawkeyes since stepping into the starting lineup as a sophomore. He teamed with outside
linebacker Chad Greenway to give Iowa the best tackle tandem in the collegiate ranks.
In 2005, Abdul (13.2 avg) and Greenway (13.0) ranked third and fourth in the nation in tackles per
game. Hodge is only the third player in school history to lead the team in tackles three times in a
career, joining Tom Rusk (1976-78) and Larry Station (1982-85) and his career-high 158 tackles
in 2005 rank second on the school's season-record list.
Hodge earned Super Prep All-American honors as a senior linebacker at Boyd Anderson High
School. He added first-team All-State and All-Conference accolades his final year and was a firstteam
All-County and third-team All-State pick as a junior. He captained the foot-ball team three
years, lettering in football four times, twice in track and once in basketball.
The Broward County MVP on defense as a senior led the team to a 22-10 record during his last
three years. He finished his career with 308 tackles, 22 sacks and six interceptions. He also had
eight fumble recoveries and two touchdowns following fumble recoveries. Abdul recorded over
100 tackles in each of his final three prep seasons, leading a 9-3 team that reached the state
semi-finals as a senior.
Like most Iowa recruits, Hodge spent his first season (2001) as a redshirt. He competed as an
outside linebacker on the scout team that year, but moved to inside linebacker the next season.
He totaled 38 tackles (28 solos) with a sack in 2002, receiving the Coaches' Appreciation Award
for his performance on special teams.
Hodge took over middle linebacker chores as a sophomore. The All-Big Ten Conference firstteam
pick led the team with 141 tackles (83 solos), two sacks and nine stops for losses. He
recovered two fumbles, caused two others and deflected three passes. His 141 tackles rank
fourth on the school's season-record list.
College Sports Report gave Abdul fourth-team All-American recognition and he was again named
to the All-Big Ten first-team in 2004. Hodge posted a team-high 116 tackles (79 solos) with three
sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He also batted away three passes.
Despite leading the conference and ranking third in the nation in tackles, Hodge was only named
to the All-Big Ten second-team in 2005. He amassed 158 tackles (98 solos), the second-best
season total in Iowa annals. Abdul had a sack, eleven stops for losses and recovered two
fumbles. He also caused three fumbles.
In 50 games with the Hawkeyes, Hodge started 37 times. He ranks third in school history with
453 tackles (288 solos), the seventh-best career total in NCAA Division 1-A history (records kept
since 2000). He added seven sacks for minus 36 yards and 25.5 stops for losses of 75 yards.
Abdul recovered six fumbles for 47 yards in returns and also caused six fumbles while deflecting
seven passes.
CAREER NOTES
Ranks third in school history with 453 tackles, topped only by Larry Station (492, 1982-85) and
Andre Jackson (465, 1972-75)...His 453 tackles rank seventh in NCAA Division 1-A annals
(records kept since 2000), topped only by Derrick Johnson of Texas (458, 2001-04), Dexter Reid
of North Carolina (466, 2000-03), Grant Wiley of West Virginia (492, 2000-03), Ryan Fowler of
Duke (495, 2000-03), Justin Beriault of Ball State (508, 2001-04) and Rod Davis of Southern
Mississippi (526, 2000-03)...His 158 tackles in 2005 are the second-most in a season by a
Hawkeye behind Jackson's 171 in 1977...Registered at least ten tackles in a game 23 times
during his career...Only the third player in school history to lead the team in tackles three
consecutive seasons, joining Larry Station (1982-85; 88 in '82, 138 in '83, 137 in '84, 129 in '85)
and Tom Rusk (1976-78; 114 in '76, 138 in '77, 106 in '78).
2005 SEASON
All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report...All-Big Ten Conference second-team
choice...Shared team MVP honors with linebacker Chad Greenway...Led the conference and
ranked third in the nation with an average of 13.2 tackles per game...His 158 tackles (98 solos)
rank second on the school's season-record list...Only Tom Rusk (105 in 1977) had more solo
tackles in a season for Iowa...Started every game at middle linebacker, producing a 4-yard sack
and eleven stops for losses of 27 yards...Recovered two fumbles and caused three
others...Credited with a pair of quarterback pressures... Registered at least ten tackles in eight
contests.
2004 SEASON
Third-team All-American pick by The NFL Draft Report, adding fourth-team honors from College
Sports Report...All-Big Ten Conference first-team choice...One of three juniors that were
selected to the team's Leadership Council...Started every game, leading the squad with 116
tackles (79 solos)...Had three sacks for minus 13 yards, 4.5 stops for losses of 15 yards and one
quarterback pressure...Recovered two fumbles and caused another...Also deflected four
passes...Made at least ten tackles in seven contests.
2003 SEASON
All-Big Ten Conference first-team choice...Member of the team's Leadership Council... Moved
into the starting lineup at middle linebacker, recording a team-high 141 tackles (83 solos), the
fourth-highest season total in school history behind Andre Jackson's record 171 hits in 1977,
Hodges' 158 stops in 2005 and Chad Greenway's 156 tackles in 2005..Had two sacks for minus
15 yards and nine stops for losses of 29 yards...Recovered two fumbles for 47 yards in
returns...Caused two fumbles and deflected three passes...Posted at least ten tackles in eight
contests.
2002 SEASON
Earned the Coaches Appreciation Award, special teams...Played in every game as a reserve
middle linebacker...Recorded 38 tackles (28 solos) with a 4-yard sack and a quarterback
pressure.
2001 SEASON
Redshirted as a freshman.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.64 in the 40-yard dash...440-pound bench press...561-pound squat...325-pound power
clean...35-inch vertical jump...32 1/2-inch arm length...8 1/4 -inch hands...Right-handed... Wears
glasses/contacts.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.) High School, playing football for head coach
Ken Scott...Earned Super Prep All-American honors as a senior linebacker...Added first-team
All-State and All-Conference accolades his final year and was a first-team All-County and thirdteam
All-State pick as a junior...Captained the football team three years, lettering in football four
times, twice in track and once in basketball...The Broward County MVP on defense as a senior
led the team to a 22-10 record during his last three years... Finished his career with 308 tackles,
22 sacks and six interceptions...Also had eight fumble recoveries and two touchdowns following
fumble recoveries...Recorded over 100 tackles in each of his final three prep seasons, leading a
9-3 team that reached the state semi-finals as a senior...National Honor Society member.
PERSONAL
Communications Studies major...Son of Violet Hodge and Leroy Frazier... Brother, Elijah Hodge,
was a freshman linebacker at the University of Wisconsin in 2005...Nicknamed "Hitman"...Born
9/09/82 in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands...Resides in Lauderhill, Florida.
| DEFENSIVE STATISTICS |
| Year |
GP |
GS |
TK |
SO |
AS |
FR |
FC |
INT |
TFL |
PBU |
SK |
PRES |
| 2002 |
13 |
0 |
38 |
28 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1.0-4 |
0 |
1.0-4 |
1 |
| 2003 |
13 |
13 |
141 |
83 |
58 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
9-29 |
3 |
2-15 |
0 |
| 2004 |
12 |
12 |
116 |
79 |
37 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4.5-15 |
4 |
3.0-13 |
1 |
| 2005 |
12 |
12 |
158 |
98 |
60 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
11.0-27 |
0 |
1.0-4 |
2 |
| Total |
50 |
37 |
453 |
288 |
165 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
25.5-75 |
7 |
7.0-36 |
4 |
Advanced Fumble Returns: 1 for 47 yards (2003)
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