Reggie Hodges facts for kids
Hodges with the Cleveland Browns in 2012
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| Position: | Punter | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | January 26, 1982 Champaign, Illinois, U.S. |
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| 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 | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Reginald Aaron Hodges (born January 26, 1982) is an American former professional football player. He was a punter, which means he kicked the ball far down the field to the other team. The St. Louis Rams picked him in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He played college football at Ball State University.
Reggie Hodges also played for several other NFL teams. These included the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and Cleveland Browns.
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Reggie Hodges' Early Life
Reggie Hodges grew up in Champaign, Illinois. When he was a senior at Centennial High School, he was recognized as one of the best players in Illinois. He averaged 39.4 yards per punt, showing his strong kicking skills early on.
College Football Career
Reggie Hodges started punting for Ball State University as a freshman. He became a very important player for his team. By the time he finished college, he had set a school record with 254 punts. His total of 10,210 punting yards was the second highest in the school's history. In his senior year, he was named a First-team All-MAC player, meaning he was one of the best punters in his conference. He led the conference with 73 punts, averaging 42.6 yards per kick.
Playing in the NFL
Starting with the St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams chose Reggie Hodges in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He signed a three-year contract in July 2005. Reggie won the punting job for the Rams during training camp. He played in five games, averaging 38.0 yards per punt. However, the team decided to release him in October 2005.
Time with the Philadelphia Eagles
In November 2005, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Reggie Hodges. He played in three games for them, averaging 36.8 yards on 19 punts. He was released later that month. The Eagles signed him again in January 2006, but he was waived before the regular season started.
Playing for the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts signed Reggie in August 2006. He tried to earn the punting job but was released before the season began. The Colts signed him again in February 2007, but he was released once more in August 2007.
Brief Stays with Other Teams
After his time with the Colts, Reggie Hodges signed with a few other NFL teams. He joined the Seattle Seahawks in April 2008 but was released before the season. He then briefly joined the practice squad of the New England Patriots in September 2008. Later that month, the New York Jets signed him. He stayed with the Jets until April 2009. In September 2009, he signed with the Tennessee Titans but was waived in October.
Success with the Cleveland Browns
Reggie Hodges found a home with the Cleveland Browns. He signed with them in November 2009. He became the team's main punter after their previous punter, Dave Zastudil, was injured.
One of Reggie's most famous plays happened on October 24, 2010. During a game against the New Orleans Saints, the Browns faked a punt. Instead of kicking the ball, Reggie ran with it for an amazing 68 yards! This is the longest run ever by a punter in NFL history. It was also the longest run by any Cleveland Browns player that entire season.
In November 2010, Reggie signed a new two-year deal to stay with the Browns. However, in August 2011, he suffered a serious injury. He tore his left Achilles tendon during practice. This injury meant he could not play for the rest of the season.
Reggie Hodges' Life Off the Field
Reggie Hodges is one of the few African-American punters in the history of the NFL. Besides his football career, he is also the Vice President of a company called Fuzion Sports.
Images for kids
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Reggie Hodges with the Cleveland Browns in 2012
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Reggie Hodges practicing punting in 2012
