Missouri is enjoying a strong season on the field so far this fall with a 5-0 start, but on Saturday as it enjoyed a bye the Tigers still managed to pull off another huge victory.
Four-star running back TJ Hodges, who was one of the top uncommitted running backs in the nation among the Class of 2026, announced that he has committed to Missouri. Hodges’ commitment to the Tigers for next season was reported by On3 on Saturday afternoon, giving head coach Eli Drinkwitz‘s program something to celebrate as it rested before a Week 7 home showdown against Alabama.
For Mizzou, during their bye week, it was all about the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Hodges, an Arkansas product who chose Missouri over SEC rival Arkansas. So, rather than stay in-state and play for the Razorbacks, Hodges decided to head to Columbia to join Drinkwitz’s surging program. Baylor and Louisville were among the other schools in the mix for Hodges.
It’s been a strong 2 days for Mizzou in the recruiting world, with Alabama 4-star linebacker JJ Bush committing to Missouri on Friday.
Hodges is the 328th-ranked player in the Class of 2026, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He is also the 18th-ranked running back in the class and the 3rd-ranked player from the state of Arkansas, according to the composite rankings.
His commitment gives Mizzou 14 commits in its Class of 2026, which ranks 58th overall in the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
