TCU Football: Meet The Players--Johnny Hodges
Johnny Hodges is a focused man. When we met at Ye Olde Bull and Bush on Montgomery 76107--I insisted on an informal interview, just two guys having a beer--he equally insisted, upon my offering to buy him the best Guinness in the US this side of Boston, he does not drink a drop and will not until next season ends. Speaking as a drinker, let me tell you that's serious dedication. Over the course of this interview, I found him to be every bit the congenial gentleman he acts when he routinely appears at the Taco Shop. Unfailingly polite, it is clear that despite his unimpeachable manners, he possesses an intensity that explains why he is one of the most feared linebackers in the Big 12. This is a near direct transcript of our discussion -- with some necessary edits made for time and space.
I want you to know, between us, you’re my parents’ favorite football player.
Oh, I love it, I love it. Thank you, thank you.
One thing they mentioned is that you have a particularly interesting story. They’re familiar with it. I’m not, I’m sure some of our readers aren’t, so could you give a rundown of that story, if you don’t mind?
I guess I’ll start with the recruiting process when I was coming out of high school. I’m from Maryland, and that’s a big lacrosse state. I went to the Naval Academy and played lacrosse, I didn’t get recruited very much for football. I had a couple of Ivy League offers, Army had offered me, so it wasn’t like I was a slouch in football, I was getting all the accolades from where I was from. But I went and played lacrosse, I started with lacrosse and it was going well—I had a lot of work to do, like my stick skills and stuff--but it was going well, and then COVID hit, and I was just kind of at home doing nothing, partying with the boys, and I just felt like I needed a change of scenery in life. And I knew I was plenty good to play at Navy, so I reached out to the coaches and begged them to let me play on the team, and they let me walk on the team, and I played two seasons there. My first start was the Army Navy game, so that was insanity, that being your first collegiate start. Those games are packed and it’s a really big deal for those two programs. But things weren’t going where I wanted things to go my second season. My coaches and I were not on the same page, and I was in a very, very dark place. All that mental stuff that people go through, and athletes go through. And I entered my name in the transfer portal, and might have thought I was a little big for my britches, and was in the transfer portal for a month and a half, didn’t get a single offer, and right before Christmas Eve Coach Gillespie at TCU called me and gave me a full-ride and I committed on the spot, pretty much.
Are you happy?
100 percent. I couldn’t be happier. From a football standpoint, from where I was to where I am, it literally can’t be any better. I was done with football, wanted nothing to do with it, couldn’t even watch it on TV I was so sick of it. And then I got an offer here, and now I can’t stop thinking about it. And then from a social perspective, I love the people down here in this area. This is where I’ll be for the rest of my life, without a doubt, once my football career is over.
You’re just going to stay in Fort Worth.
100 percent. Somewhere in Texas.
Are your folks still in Maryland?
Yes, but they’re planning on moving down soon.
They like it here too?
Yeah they love it. If I’m happy they’re happy. If my brother’s happy, they’re happy.
I bet they’re very proud of you.
Yes sir, yes sir. They’re definitely happy campers right now.
You have a brother you said?
Yeah, he’s an engineer in Kansas City . . .
Older?
Older, yeah, yes sir, and he’s working his way down here. I think we’re all going to end up in Texas. That’s the plan.
So what’s your favorite thing about Texas?
I just like the people. People have their heads screwed on here. Big, you know, hardhat, lunch pail kind of work ethic, people are just ready to go to work, and they have their heads screwed on. They’re not going to make a fuss over something little. I’d definitely say the people.
This last season was your first at TCU?
Yes sir.
So this question is partly ethical, partly practical. You’re on the most successful TCU football team in school history. How do you follow that up? You’ve made the big album, you’ve caught the big fish, how do you improve on it?
Well, we wanna get back there, you know, and finish it off. I think the thing was we beat Michigan and that was such a big deal for us, we came up short. The lights just got way too bright, and we thought we’d already conquered. And there was another battle to be won. And we weren’t ready. So definitely getting back and exceeding what we’ve done, that’s the goal, to be better than you were the year before, every time. In order for us to that, come back every day, work hard, and bring back so many people who were on the team that understand what it takes and what went wrong. I think everyone has that on the forefront of their mind. And I think we’re going to be a nationally recognized program for a long, long time.
Do you think, realistically, you can be as good as you were last year?
Oh better. One hundred percent.
One hundred percent.
One hundred percent.
Do you have any favorite memories of that season?
Oh for sure. Beating Texas was really cool, because I’ve never played in front of that many people. Most people haven’t. Beating Michigan was cool. Even the losses, man. Losing the Big 12, making it there, learning from that experience which propelled us to beat Michigan, and then learning from the Georgia experience, which is going to propel us through next season.
So you see next season as a continuation of last season, that this is the same story?
Yes, sir. Every person has their own individual story, and each team has their own story, and everything is just a learning experience, win or lose. I’ve never really lost at anything, and I think our team hasn’t lost either. We just learn from things. That’s how I’m taking it.
You said earlier that you were exhausted with football, burned out. You couldn’t stand even to watch it. And then you came to TCU. Was there a moment or a particular memory that you have where you remember thinking this is what I love, this is what I was meant to do?
It’s the coaching. Coaching there made me hate the game. Then I came here and realized that football was not that. It’s the moment I got a chance, when someone believed in me. When I got that offer, an insane weight was brushed off my shoulders and back. A greater being seemed to say I’m telling you this is what you’re supposed to be doing at this point in your life.
Could you tell everybody what position you play?
I’m an insider linebacker.
Insider linebacker. Now that’s what Palmer (Nix) is too, right?
That’s right.
What’s it like to hit someone that hard? You and Palmer are such nice guys. Recognizing that, what’s it like to lay someone on their ass?
It feels really, really good. Just to dominate someone. But it’s just part of the game and in my position that’s our job.
Do you have a favorite hit? Like one where you said that was perfect, that was great?
We were playing Kansas State and the receiver was going across the middle and looking back at the ball and they threw it high and there was no chance of me getting a targeting, no chance of getting a penalty, or thrown out of the game, just a chance to kill him.
At this point KillerFrogs' Sports Ignoramus is laughing his proverbial ass off.
That felt good. I didn’t have to do anything and the whole crowd goes “ooooooh.”
More laughing off of asses.
When did you know that last year’s team was special?
You know, I never really knew. It was my first time playing serious football. So I was just taking one day at a time, pushing the team like we’re trying to do now, taking it one day at a time. And we were just competing every day. One week at a time.
Can you tell your fans what to look forward to this season?
I think you guys are going to see a much faster, more confident player. I’ve been working hard and perfecting my craft, and really, really focusing on football all the time, losing a bunch of weight. You’re going to see a much faster guy. I’m really excited to showcase my speed this year. And our team is the same way. Really looking forward to seeing how Chandler plays. Obviously, he’s the quarterback.
And you think the team in general shares your focus.
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yep, yep.
So now the important questions. What’s your favorite restaurant in Fort Worth?
I’d have to go with Torchy’s, right?
What? You’re saying that because I’m sitting here!
I love Torchy’s. It’s not really hard to get me to like food. Heim’s really good. They support the team. I like them too.
Robert De Niro or Al Pacino?
Who are those guys?
They’re actors. From back in the day.
I’m awful with actors. I know Will Farrell and Adam Sandler and Leonardo Dicaprio . . .
What’s your favorite Dicaprio movie?
Probably Django. But Wolf of Wall Street’s a classic, Titanic’s a classic.
What’s your favorite TV show?
I just started Sopranos, so I’m hooked on that. Love that show. Game of Thrones. The Wire. You seen The Wire?
I have not seen The Wire.
Give that a watch. It’s like The Sopranos but it’s about inner-city Baltimore. It’s incredible. And I like The Office, that’s funny.
Johnny, thank you so much, boss.
Thank you.
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