Scouting Report: Braylon Hodge

 

Overview

Braylon Hodge is a 6-foot-3, 212-pound linebacker from Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colorado (Class of 2026). He has emerged as one of the top defensive prospects in the Mountain West region and is currently rated a four-star recruit. According to 247Sports Composite rankings, Hodge is the No. 1 overall player in Colorado and a top-15 linebacker nationally in the 2026 class. A late bloomer in a powerhouse program, Hodge’s stock soared after a strong senior season and impressive offseason camp showings, culminating in a commitment to the Oregon Ducks. He brings a well-rounded skill set, combining athleticism, physicality, and football IQ that make him a true every-down linebacker at the next level.

Physical Attributes and Athleticism

Hodge possesses an ideal frame for an outside linebacker, with a tall and lean build that can easily add more muscle without sacrificing explosiveness2. He shows excellent quick-twitch athleticism on the field – his acceleration and change-of-direction ability stand out when chasing plays sideline to sideline. In offseason testing environments, Hodge proved his athletic prowess by shining at the Polynesian Bowl Combine and the Under Armour Camp in Utah. These performances showcased his speed and agility on a national stage. As a result, he’s considered a fast-rising prospect who plays the game at a rapid tempo. Hodge’s combination of length (with long arms to disrupt passing lanes) and rangy athleticism allows him to cover a lot of ground in a hurry, which is a coveted trait for modern linebackers.

Instincts and Play Recognition

One of Hodge’s standout qualities is his high football IQ and instinctual play. As a senior, he demonstrates quick diagnostic skills – reading offensive plays, reacting almost instantly, and positioning himself to make stops. He “reads and reacts” very well to the football, meaning he can identify run vs. pass and track the ball-carrier without hesitation. This improvement in play recognition from his junior to senior year is evident in how decisively he now attacks plays. With an extra year of starting experience, the game has slowed down for Hodge. He anticipates plays before they fully develop, which enables him to arrive at the point of attack right on time or even ahead of the play. This sharpened awareness has been a key factor in his elevated performance as a senior.

Run Defense and Physicality

Against the run, Hodge is a tone-setter for his defense. He plays with downhill aggression and isn’t afraid to meet ball-carriers in the hole. Despite not being the heaviest linebacker (hovering around 210-215 lbs in high school), he packs a punch on contact. Hodge delivers forceful tackles that drive opponents backwards, showing what evaluators describe as real knock-back power at the point of attack. His tackling technique has become more refined in his senior season – he takes better angles to the football and wraps up securely, rarely letting runners slip through his grasp. Hodge has also improved his ability to take on and shed blocks. As a junior first-year starter he occasionally relied on speed to run around blocks; by his senior campaign, he’s more adept at using his hands and strength to disengage from blockers and still make the play. This increased functional strength and technique allow him to excel as a run defender between the tackles and in pursuit to the perimeter.

Pass Coverage and Versatility

Perhaps one of Hodge’s most impressive attributes is his comfort in pass coverage, a skill that often separates good high school linebackers from great college prospects. He is fluid when dropping into zone coverage and shows the speed to carry receivers up the seam or running backs to the flat. His senior film and camp reps display smooth hip turn and acceleration, indicating he can stick with tight ends in man coverage and mirror running backs out of the backfield. At 6-3 with a long stride, Hodge covers a lot of ground in zone coverage, quickly closing throwing windows. He already has one interception on his résumé from his junior year, and that came from reading the quarterback’s eyes and undercutting a route – a sign of his ball skills and awareness. Because of his range and athleticism, Hodge projects as a true three-down linebacker who won’t need to leave the field on passing downs. Coaches can trust him to hold up in coverage, blitz off the edge, or spy an athletic quarterback as needed. This versatility in coverage and ability to play in space makes him compatible with virtually any defensive scheme.

Leadership and Intangibles

Hodge brings more than just physical tools – he’s also praised for his intangibles. Described as a natural leader on and off the field, he was a captain-level presence for Cherry Creek’s defense. Teammates look to him for energy and guidance, and he leads by example with a relentless work ethic. Between his junior and senior seasons, Hodge took on a larger leadership role, becoming the quarterback of the defense who makes calls and adjustments. This increased confidence and command in the huddle mirrored his technical growth on the field. Off the field, he’s known for his strong work habits in the weight room and film room – the kind of player who is constantly trying to better himself. Those traits bode well for his college future, as they suggest he will maximize his potential through coaching and personal dedication. It’s also a reason he is viewed as a likely future team captain, continuing the leadership he showed in high school.

Development from Junior to Senior Year

Hodge’s trajectory from his junior to senior year has been one of significant improvement. In 2024 (his junior season), Hodge was a first-year starter on a Cherry Creek team that went 13-1 and captured the 5A state championship. Despite limited starting experience, he managed to compile 50 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 pass breakups, and a forced fumble during that championship run. Those numbers reflected a player with promise, but also one still growing into his role. By all accounts, the offseason between junior and senior year was where Hodge “flipped the switch” – he added lean mass to his frame, improved his speed and agility through training, and gained invaluable experience from off-season camps competing against top talent.

The results were evident in his senior year performance. Hodge emerged as one of the most impactful defenders in the state, and his early senior-season game film was outstanding enough to draw a wave of new scholarship offers from powerhouse programs. In fact, after a strong start to his senior campaign, national programs like Oregon, Michigan, and Texas – who weren’t heavily involved before – took notice and jumped into his recruitment. This mid-season recruiting surge coincided with Hodge earning a boost in rankings (moving from high three-star into four-star territory). On the field, the technical growth was clear: as a senior, Hodge played with greater calm and confidence. His play recognition became quicker, allowing him to make more plays near the line of scrimmage. He also showed more polish in pass drops and timing when blitzing. In essence, the game slowed down for Hodge in his second year as a starter, and he consistently played a step faster than he did as a junior. The label of “fast rising linebacker” is fitting – Hodge truly elevated his game in his final high school season to become one of the region’s elite defenders.

Projection and Player Comparison

With his blend of size, athleticism, and versatility, Hodge projects as a multi-role linebacker at the collegiate level. At Oregon, he could start out as an outside linebacker who excels in space, potentially at the WILL spot where his speed is utilized. In time, as he adds another 15-20 pounds in the Ducks’ strength program, Hodge has the toolkit to slide inside as well, giving Oregon flexibility in how they deploy him. His skill set suggests he will thrive in a defense that asks linebackers to be active in coverage and aggressive against the run – traits that Oregon head coach Dan Lanning (a defensive-minded coach) highly values. Given Hodge’s aptitude in various phases of the game, he has the makings of a three-down linebacker who can stay on the field in all situations, much like he did in high school.

A telling comparison for Braylon Hodge’s style of play is former Oregon Ducks linebacker Troy Dye. Like Dye, Hodge is a tall, rangy linebacker with a knack for finding the football and the athleticism to excel in coverage. Dye played at around 6-3, 225 lbs in college and was known for his sideline-to-sideline range, ability to drop into coverage, and leadership as a defensive captain. Hodge shows a similar profile – a lean frame that will fill out, plus the speed and instincts to be a tackling machine and pass defender at the next level. If Hodge follows a development path like Dye’s, he could become a centerpiece of the Ducks’ linebacker corps, providing both steady run support and playmaking in the passing game.

Overall, Braylon Hodge is the type of linebacker prospect who checks all the boxes: size, speed, physicality, intelligence, and intangibles. His rapid development between junior and senior year is a strong indicator of his coachability and upward trajectory. As he transitions to college, expect Hodge to continue rising – with the potential to be an impact player and a leader for Oregon’s defense in the years to come.