The college football season in Texas starts a week earlier than normal with a Week 0 matchup between North Texas and UTEP. To celebrate us making it through another off-season, we’re counting down the 50 most important players in Texas every day until Aug. 27. The list isn’t necessarily about which players are the best, though talent plays a major factor in most important.

No. 9: Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU senior cornerback 

The History

The cousin of TCU football legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson, Hodges-Tomlinson was destined to become a Horned Frog. He committed to TCU as a three-star recruit out of Waco Midway High School after totaling 155 tackles, six pass breakups, and five interceptions in his prep career. Hodges-Tomlinson chose the Horned Frogs over Baylor, Kansas State, and Iowa State. 

Hodges-Tomlinson played in 12 games as a freshman in 2019, starting for the first time in a matchup against rival Baylor. He recorded eight tackles on the season. He broke out as a sophomore in 2020 when he was the nation’s highest-graded cornerback by Pro Football Focus. He was named to multiple All-American teams and was a first team All-Big 12 selection. His 13 pass breakups led the Big 12 and were second in the nation. 

The 2021 season also finished with first team All-Big 12 honors despite the defensive struggles of TCU. He had a team-best seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles despite opponents avoiding his side as often as possible. He was sixth on the team with 42 tackles. He even played some safety as a junior due to injuries at the position.

The Skillset 

The 5-9, 180-pound Hodges-Tomlinson must feel like a shadow for opposing wide receivers because he’s always in position to make plays on the football. His amount of pass breakups proves he’s there to make plays. Quarterbacks rarely test him anymore due to his history as a playmaker. As a junior, he even proved physical enough to play safety, which will help his NFL draft profile after the 2022 season. He’s a pure cover corner who handles big receivers better than his frame suggests. He’s likely a nickel back in the NFL due to his lack of size. His lateral quickness is stellar, as is his technique. He’s clearly a top-level athlete with great bloodlines. 

The Impact 

The two most important defensive positions in modern football are cornerback and defensive end. Hodges-Tomlinson gives TCU an invaluable piece to its defensive puzzle because the Horned Frogs can put him on the opponent’s best wide receiver and play 10-on-10 football. The defense was putrid in 2021 and new head coach Sonny Dykes brought in Joe Gillespie to retool a defense long led by Gary Patterson. Hodges-Tomlinson is sure to flourish in the new system as he attempts to be a three-time first team All-Big 12 selection in the secondary. Improved depth at safety should allow him to stick at cornerback for the entirety of the season. 

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