Healthy Hodge is flourishing for Villanova
RADNOR >> In his first three seasons at Villanova, Changa Hodge had nearly as many notations on his medical reports as numbers on the stat sheet.
Hodge lacerated a kidney as a freshman in 2016 and missed the first seven games for the season. He returned in time to help the Wildcats make a run to the FCS playoffs, losing to South Dakota State in the second round.
A year later, Hodge suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in the second game of the season against Temple. He had four catches for 100 yards before he went down, but the injury occurred early enough that Hodge was able to redshirt.
Hodge played in 10 of 11 games in 2018 and caught
22 passes for 344 yards and one touchdown, but battled turf toe and ankle problems throughout the season.
“It was a struggle to play up to my ability,” Hodge said this week.
Finally healthy, Hodge is doing just that. His breakout season is one of the reasons the eighth-ranked Wildcats (9-3) are headed to Hammond, La., to take on Southeastern Louisiana
(7-4) Saturday in the first round of the FCS playoffs
(4 p.m., 610-ESPN). The 6-1, 200-pound redshirt junior leads the Wildcats in receptions (59), receiving yards (1,020) and receiving touchdowns (12). Those numbers are tied for 14th, fifth and tied for fourth, respectively, in program history.
Hodge had the game of his career in a 55-33 romp over Delaware in the regular-season finale. He tied a career high with eight receptions and set career marks for receiving yards
(236), receiving touchdowns (four) in a game, and longest touchdown reception (82 yards).
The only players with more in a game against the Blue Hens all-time? Hofstra’s Wayne Chrebet and Marshall’s Randy Moss. Chrebet play 11 seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets. Moss is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Hodge was the first Wildcat receiver to have 200 receiving yards in a game since Brian Finneran in
1997. His four TD catches were the most by a Villanova receiver since Mike Siani had five against Xavier in 1971. The East Stroudsburg South High grad is also the first receiver at Villanova with more than 1,000 yards in a season since Murle Sango in 1999.
“I’m thankful to be healthy,” said Hodge, who will graduate in May with a major in liberal arts and minors in communication and sociology. “I’ve grown over the years and I’m thankful to be back on the field and show what I’m all about.”
And so are the Wildcats. “I think you saw a lot of flashes earlier in his career,” coach Mark Ferrante said. “Right now, though, the fact that he’s been able to stay healthy, you’re seeing that on a more consistent level, and I still think he has room to continue to get better because in hindsight he’s really missed two years.”
Hodge has also benefitted from the new offensive scheme installed by firstyear offensive coordinator and the play of quarterback
Daniel Smith, a transfer from Campbell. Smith is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top offensive player in the FCS, for the second season in a row. Smith has thrown for 2,991 yards and 31 touchdowns. Those numbers rank seventh and tied for third in program history.
“Honestly, I don’t know where Coach (Chris) Boden comes up with some of the stuff he comes up with,” Hodge said, referencing Villanova’s offensive coordinator. “He’s a scientist of the game, and I’m just glad to be on the same sideline with him calling the plays.”
Hodge figures to be a key for the Wildcats in a game that has all the makings of an offensive shootout. Southeastern Louisiana ranks third in the FCS in passing offense (330.2 yards per game), No. 7 in total offense (473.8) and No. 10 in scoring offense
(36.6 ppg). Villanova is No.
31 (258.9), No. 9 (36.8) and No. 16 (451.0) in those respective categories.
Platooning quarterbacks usually is a recipe for disaster, but the Lions make it work. Chason Virgil has thrown for 2,881 yards and 18 touchdowns, while Cole Kelley has 751 passing yards and 10 TDs.
That duo has spread the ball around to 15 receivers. CJ Turner leads the team with 58 receptions for
642 yards and four touchdowns. Devonte Williams has caught 55 passes for
482 yards and three scores. Austin Mitchell (45-794-8), Bransen Schwebel (42-4673) and Javon Conner (39422-4) have also been key figures in the passing attack.
Schwebel earned firstteam All-Southland Conference honors. Virgil, Williams
and Mitchell were named to the third team.
Hodge and Smith earned third-team All-CAA honors, a snub in many minds, as was Villanova having to go on the road for the first round of the playoffs. The winner takes on sixthseeded Montana in Missoula in the Sweet 16 on Dec. 7.
“That’s the (selection) committee,” Hodge said. “Sometimes they make mistakes. We’re going to go out and prove people wrong, and we get to go to Louisiana, warm weather and play down there and show what we’re about.”
That’s something Hodge has done throughout this breakout season.
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NOTES >> The Wildcats had 10 players earn allconference honors. Offensive lineman Paul Grattan, linebacker Forrest Rhyne and punter Nick Fondacaro were the only firstteam selections. Smith, Hodge, running back Justin Covington, offensive lineman Colin Gamroth, defensive lineman Malik Fisher, linebacker Drew Wiley and cornerback Jaquan Amos earned third-team honors. Senior safety Chucky Smith was the recipient of the Chuck Boone Leadership and Excellence Award.