Reggie Hodges

Last updated

Reggie Hodges
Reggie Hodges in 2012.jpg
Hodges with the Cleveland Browns in 2012
No. 4, 6, 3, 2
Position: Punter
Personal information
Born: (1982-01-26) January 26, 1982 (age 42)
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:226 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school: Champaign (IL) Centennial
College: Ball State
NFL draft: 2005  / round: 6 / pick: 210
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-MAC (2004)
NFL record
  • Longest run by a punter: 68 yards
Career NFL statistics
Punts:320
Punt yards:13,266
Punt yard average:41.5
Long:61
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Reginald Aaron Hodges (born January 26, 1982) is a former American football punter. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He played college football at Ball State.

Contents

Hodges was also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and Cleveland Browns.

Early life

Hodges earned First-team All-state honors in Illinois as a senior at Centennial High School, averaging 39.4 yards per punt.

College career

Hodges took over punting duties as a freshman at Ball State, going on to set a school-career record with 254 attempts. His 10,210 yards ranked second in school history at the time of his graduation. He was named First-team All-MAC selection as a senior, leading conference with 73 punts (42.6 avg).

Professional career

St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams drafted Hodges in the sixth round (210th overall) of the 2005 NFL draft. [1] He was signed to a three-year contract on July 27, 2005. Hodges won the Rams' punting job out of training camp, beating out veteran Bryan Barker. Hodges went on to appear in five games for the Rams, averaging 38.0 yards and 31.0 net yards in 22 attempts. Hodges' poor performance caused the team to release him on October 10 and re-sign Barker for the remainder of the season.

Philadelphia Eagles

On November 2, 2005, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid said the team would sign Hodges to replace Dirk Johnson, who was out with a hernia. Hodges appeared in three games for the Eagles, averaging 36.8 yards in 19 punts with one blocked. He was waived by the team November 22. He spent the rest of the 2005 season out of football.

The Eagles re-signed Hodges to a two-year future contract on January 13, 2006. The deal included base salaries of $310,000 (2006) and $385,000 (2007). However, he did not play in the team's first preseason game and was waived on August 8.

Indianapolis Colts

On August 18, 2006, the Indianapolis Colts signed Hodges, however he failed to beat out longtime Colts punter Hunter Smith for the job and was released on September 3. He spent the 2006 season out of football.

The Colts re-signed Hodges to a three-year contract on February 23, 2007. He again lost out to Smith for the Colts' punting job, failing to appear in the team's first two preseason games before being released on August 23. He spent the season out of football.

Seattle Seahawks

After failing to make an NFL team for each of the past two seasons, Hodges signed with the Seattle Seahawks on April 11, 2008. He was released by the team on August 30 during final cuts.

New England Patriots

On September 4, 2008, Hodges was signed to the practice squad of the New England Patriots. He was waived from it on September 7, 2008.

New York Jets

On September 17, 2008, Hodges was signed by the Jets to replace former punter Ben Graham, who was cut the day before. The Jets waived Hodges on April 27, 2009, and he was replaced by Eric Wilbur. He was re-signed on June 10, 2009.

Tennessee Titans

On September 23, 2009, Hodges was signed by the Tennessee Titans to replace punter Craig Hentrich. He was waived on October 27.

Cleveland Browns

Hodges in Browns training camp in 2012 Reggie Hodges practicing punting.jpg
Hodges in Browns training camp in 2012

Hodges was signed by the Cleveland Browns on November 15, 2009, after punter Dave Zastudil was listed as inactive for the game against the Baltimore Ravens. Zastudil was later placed on injured reserve on November 18, making Hodges the only punter on the roster. Zastudil was again placed on injured reserve on August 17, 2010, after the knee recovered poorly from surgery.

During the Browns' October 24, 2010, game against the New Orleans Saints, Hodges took a fake punt and ran it 68 yards to the Saints' 10-yard line. This run is currently the longest run by a punter in NFL history, and it was the longest run by a member of the Cleveland Browns during the 2010 season.

On November 27, 2010, Hodges signed a 2-year deal, keeping him with the Browns through 2012.

On August 2, 2011, while practicing at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility in Berea, Ohio Hodges suffered a torn left Achilles tendon, falling to the ground as soon as he planted his non-kicking foot in the end zone during a special teams drill. He was immediately called out for the season and placed on injured reserve.

Personal

Hodges has the distinction of being one of the few African-American punters in NFL history. He is also the Vice President of Fuzion Sports. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Zastudil</span> American football player (born 1978)

David Michael Zastudil is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio Bobcats, and was selected in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deion Branch</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

Anthony Deion Branch Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He is the director of player development and alumni relations at the University of Louisville. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football at Louisville.

The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League (NFL) and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end. Most significantly, the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy resulted in a then-unique legal settlement where the Cleveland Browns franchise, history, records, and intellectual property remained in Cleveland, while its players and personnel transferred to Baltimore, technically to a new league franchise that was named the Baltimore Ravens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Hanson (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1976)

Christopher David Hanson is an American former professional football player who was a punter for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd, and was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He also played professionally for the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots. Hanson is perhaps best known for a season-ending injury sustained while swinging a motivational axe in the Jaguars' locker room in 2003. Hanson was a switch-punter, able to effectively kick with both his left and his right leg, which he alternated to reduce fatigue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Baker</span> American football player (born 1978)

Jason Michael Baker is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and Carolina Panthers.

Dan Klecko is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle and fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football for the Temple Owls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Whitehurst</span> American football player (born 1982)

Charles David Whitehurst Jr., is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers, and was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft. Nicknamed "Clipboard Jesus", Whitehurst also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Moore</span> American football player (born 1983)

Lance Andrew Moore is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Toledo Rockets. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2005. Moore joined the New Orleans Saints in 2006 and played with them for eight seasons, and was a member of the 2009 Super Bowl championship team that beat the Indianapolis Colts. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cary Williams</span> American football player (born 1984)

Cary Eric Williams is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washburn Ichabods and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Allen (American football)</span> American football player (born 1990)

Ryan Allen is an American former football punter who played in the National Football League (NFL). He is best known for being the starting punter for the New England Patriots for six seasons, during which he won three Super Bowls and was the Patriots’ longest serving starting punter of the Bill Belichick era. He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Allen won twice the Ray Guy Award in 2011 and 2012, and also was a unanimous All-American in 2012. He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent after the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierre Desir</span> Haitian American football player (born 1990)

Pierre Desir is a Haitian former professional American football cornerback. He played college football at Lindenwood and Washburn, and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He has also played for the San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Lenz</span> American football player (born 1990)

Joshua Lenz is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Iowa State, and signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He spent several years in the NFL on practice squads, only ever being on the active roster with the Indianapolis Colts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Palardy</span> American football player (born 1992)

Michael Albert Palardy is an American professional football punter who is a free agent. He played college football at Tennessee and was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He has also been a member of the St. Louis Rams, Toronto Argonauts, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and Washington Commanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pharaoh Brown</span> American football player (born 1994)

Pharaoh Brown is an American professional football tight end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent following the 2017 NFL draft. He played college football at Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Johnson (wide receiver)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Marcus Johnson is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He has played 6 seasons in the NFL for four different teams and won a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles following Super Bowl LII. After playing college football for Texas, he was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent following the 2016 NFL draft and spent part of the season on the practice squad before making the roster the next year. He has since then also played for the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JoJo Natson</span> American football player (born 1994)

Bruce "JoJo" Natson Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah State and Akron.

Braxton Berrios is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami (FL). He was a star athlete at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he played quarterback and wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penny Hart</span> American football player (born 1996)

Marjahn Penny Mathias Hart is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the Georgia State Panthers and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts after the 2019 NFL draft.

Isaiah Rodgers Sr. is an American professional football cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UMass Minutemen.

References

  1. "2005 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  2. Hutchinson, Dave (September 17, 2008). "Jets sign punter Hodges". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved October 3, 2009.