High School and College Career

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson was a 3-star prospect from Midway High School and opted to join TCU, where his uncle, Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson, played.

In his freshman year at TCU, Hodges-Tomlinson saw action in 8 games and played a total of 99 snaps as a cornerback.

The following year, as a sophomore in 2020, Hodges-Tomlinson won the starting job and played in 10 games, logging an impressive 620 snaps for the Horned Frogs. He made 23 tackles, notched 14 pass breakups with an exceptional QB rating of 59.2 when targeted.

He played in 12 games as a junior in 2021 and contributed on 743 snaps while racking up 41 tackles. His defensive efforts also led to 4 pass breakups and 2 interceptions, displaying his versatility and well-rounded skill set. He gave up a highly respectable QB rating of 75.6 when targeted.

In his final year at TCU as a senior in 2022, Hodges-Tomlinson played mostly positioned on the outside in 13 games while playing an impressive 1012 snaps. He logged 47 tackles, 7 pass breakups and 3 interceptions, including 2 pick-sixes, proving to be a crucial component in the team’s defense. Additionally, he surrendered a remarkably low QB rating of just 38.9 when targeted, demonstrating his top-level skills as a lockdown cornerback.

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson Scouting Report Introduction

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson made a significant impact for TCU as soon as he arrived in Fort Worth. Hodges-Tomlinson played as a versatile defensive back who excelled in his ability to play man coverage, primarily due to TCU’s defensive strategy which plays mostly in man coverage. He showed impressive skills in staying square and mirroring receivers as they stem to try and open his hips, which is a testament to his phenomenal footwork. Hodges-Tomlinson also demonstrated great speed and agility to quickly close the distance if a receiver had gotten separation, making him a strong-minded competitor with great ball skills that help him to make a play and force a breakup during the point of attack.

Despite Hodges-Tomlinson’s obvious athletic ability and competitiveness, he faces challenges in certain aspects of his game, primarily as a result of his size. At just 5-foot-9, he may struggle to play a ball put up high for a receiver. Also, his smaller frame allows bigger receivers to effectively block him and take him out of the play when defending the run. Additionally, he can become overzealous and act too aggressively, giving up an explosive run or taking himself out of the play altogether. However, he has showcased good tackling skills and a strong IQ, demonstrating his versatility within different positions in defensive back.

Overall, Hodges-Tomlinson could become an asset in an NFL defense with his athletic ability, given the emphasis on a team’s ability to match up with the speed and agility that offenses possess today. While suited for the outside cornerback position, his physical build raises concerns about his ability to consistently start as an everyday outside corner in the NFL. Instead, it may be more beneficial for him to play as a nickel cornerback, where he would be better suited for covering smaller, faster receivers in the slot position. This would also allow him to fine-tune his tackling abilities and provide effective run support as a nickel. Despite this, Hodges-Tomlinson’s competitive nature and athleticism hold promise for his potential success in contributing to an NFL defense.

Strengths

Despite his small stature, Hodges-Tomlinson has proven himself to be a versatile defender who can play all over the defensive backfield. This includes playing in the slot, in the box, but mainly on the outside as a traditional cornerback.

As a tackler, Hodges-Tomlinson is very solid, confidently wrapping up and giving it his all despite his size limitations. This knack for tackling is developed from his experience playing safety in high school. In addition, his anticipation skills and explosive, downhill burst could make him a star in a zone-based scheme. Hodges-Tomlinson has also shown that he is capable of changing directions with ease, and has the frame to hold up at any spot in the secondary.

In addition to his impressive athletic abilities, Hodges-Tomlinson has some major football bloodlines, being the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson. He understands zone schemes well and can make up for his shorter-than-ideal arm length with his huge vertical jump and explosiveness.

When it comes to defending against the pass, Hodges-Tomlinson can flip his hips and run, with elite top-end speed and ball skills to make plays at the catch point. He is also capable of lining up in press at times, where he has a quick and powerful punch. Overall, Hodges-Tomlinson’s impressive skills and attributes make him a force to be reckoned with on the field, despite his perceived limitations due to his size.

Weaknesses

His height and limited catch radius have caused him to be overlooked by selectors who deemed him too short to be drafted. This lack of recognition may be attributed to his shorter arms, which are not ideal for a player of his size.

One of Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson’s main weaknesses is his tendency to be a little grabby on the field. He compensates for his size disadvantage with an overly aggressive playing style that can lead to him being penalized. Additionally, he may struggle to make tackles against bigger backs due to his size.

Another issue that Hodges-Tomlinson faces is his tendency to get caught peaking into the backfield during plays. This can cause him to miss out on opportunities and leave him vulnerable on defense. He also lacks the physicality that some coaches may be looking for in a player, as he appears unsure when moving downhill and does not deliver much force as a tackler.

In college, Hodges-Tomlinson played primarily as an outside corner, but professional teams may view him as a slot-only guy. Due to his height issues, he may not be trusted on the outside and is likely to be relegated to a specific role on the field.

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is our 90th prospect on our draft big board.