Linebacker remains a pressing need for the Texas Longhorns on the 2026 recruiting cycle with two commits, including potential edge Kosi Okpala, and high-profile misses like losing Brayden Rouse to the Tennessee Volunteers, producing a late-cycle offer for Englewood (Colo.) Cherry Creek’s Braylon Hodge on Wednesday.
The 6’3, 212-pounder committed to Michigan State on June 1 after taking an official visit to East Lansing in late May before taking subsequent trips to Utah, Minnesota, and Iowa. And even though it’s late in the cycle, Hodge’s recruitment may be far from over because Michigan also offered on Wednesday.
So with three games of senior film available on Hodge, he profiles as a potential late-rising prospect with his increased interest from power programs as a consensus three-star prospect ranked as the No. 626 player nationally and the No. 43 linebacker, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Still lean and perhaps a little bit raw, Hodge has the requisite frame, athleticism, and physicality to project as a developmental prospect for a major program at the next level.
At Texas, the Longhorns have been operating with limited numbers at inside linebacker over the last several seasons, so adding high school prospects with Hodge’s profile makes more sense than attempting to add NCAA transfer portal recruits to add depth behind Liona Lefau, Ty’Anthony Smith, and Bo Barnes.
The next step in that process, of course, is to get Hodge on campus for an official visit as he and his family determine their level of interest in the Texas program.
