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Mizzou target, four-star running back TJ Hodges readies for commitment announcement

Missouri Tigers football recruiting insider Kenny Van Dorenby: Kenny Van Doren5 hours agothevandalorian
TJ Hodges copy
(Photo courtesy of TJ Hodges)

After pushing back a decision into the fall, Rivals Industry four-star TJ Hodges is set to make an announcement.

The Class of 2026 Bryant (Ark.) running back will make his verbal commitment known at 12:15 p.m. Saturday on the Arkansas Sports Network live stream. Hodges, the No. 294 recruit in the Rivals300, named a Top 6 of Arkansas, Baylor, Louisville, Missouri, Oregon and Oklahoma State.

“I’m just excited to see who he chooses,” said Hodges’ stepfather, Lucas London. “He’s been keeping it quiet. We’re not the type of parents who are going to push him one way or another. We let him make a decision based on the information that he’s gathered and we’ve gathered. I can give my input, my info, what I think, but it’s ultimately his decision. We’re not the ones who have to go to a school, do the school work and actually play for the team and play for the coaches.”

The Tigers received predictions to land Hodges from vice president of recruiting and transfer portal Steve Wiltfong and national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman. Wiltfong logged his expert prediction Jan. 19, and Spiegelman followed in late September. Entering the weekend, only Rivals ranked Hodges nationally.

Hodges previously planned to make a decision during the summer. He moved back his commitment to be sure of his options, with Baylor, Louisville and Oklahoma State emerging late into the process. His family also didn’t want him to flip his commitment.

“We are not that type of family, unless something drastic happens,” said London, who raved about Hodges’ work ethic and character. “He could have committed to a school back in the beginning of the year, if he wanted to. But we wanted him to be sure. … It creates a character flaw for the kid, and we didn’t want that on him. Because he’s not that type of kid. We don’t want a coach thinking that all he’s gonna do is jump in and out. That ain’t the type of kid we raised.”

Missouri entered Saturday with 13 pledges in the 2026 class. Three-star Maxwell Warner is the only other senior running back committed to the Tigers.