Arkansas flips 4-star RB TJ Hodges from rival Missouri

New Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield has already made a big splash on the recruiting trail, flipping one of the state’s top 2026 prospects away from rival Missouri.

Bryant (Ark.) four-star running back TJ Hodges moved his commitment to the Razorbacks, less than two months after he initially pledged to the Tigers. The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder didn’t have Arkansas among his top schools earlier in his recruitment, with Missouri, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Oregon leading the pack.

But with the change in coaching staff and a renewed push from the local school ahead of signing day, he is now a key piece to Silverfield’s first class in Fayetteville.

Hodges is the No. 311 overall prospect in the 2026 class, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services. He also ranks as the nation’s No. 20 running back and the No. 3 recruit in Arkansas.

As a senior, he has tallied 100 carries and 902 rushing yards, along with 11 receptions for 205 yards and 11 total touchdowns.

Hodges is the third commitment of the day for the new Razorbacks staff, joining four-star defensive lineman Danny Beale III and three-star Jakore Smith. Beale was a one-time Oklahoma State commit, while Smith was previously pledged to Oklahoma.

They, along with Hodges, are all Arkansas natives.