Former PVAMU star WR becomes a hero on Thursday Night Football

With the game on the line in a prime-time NFL inter-division matchup, a former Prairie View A&M wide receiver made the biggest play of his life.

On Thursday Night Football, the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into overtime tied at 30. The Falcons won the throw and had a chance to end the game with a touchdown.

On the fourth play of the drive, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​connected with receiver KhaDarel Hodge on a short curl route about five yards behind the line of scrimmage. Hodge took a missed shot from the defender and turned up the field, racing past every player in the Buc secondary and scoring the game-winning score at 45 yards.

Hodge’s heroics were crucial to Atlanta’s come-from-behind victory over an NFC South rival, but they were even greater for Hodge himself, whose path to the NFL was anything but guaranteed.

Hodge is from Mendenhall, Mississippi. He began his college career at Alcorn State, where he played quarterback. After redshirting his freshman year, he transferred to Hinds Community College, where he moved to wide receiver. After a year at JUCO, he transferred again, this time to Prairie View A&M just outside of Houston.

Hodge thrived during his three seasons with the Panthers and was named first-team All-SWAC in his senior year in 2017. This season was strong enough to make some noise in the NFL.

Despite the hype, he went undrafted in 2018. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams after attending a tryout, but was cut at the end of training camp. Despite this setback, he still signed to the team’s practice squad and eventually worked his way back onto the team’s official roster during his rookie season.

After his rookie year, he was released again by the Rams. He signed with the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions over the next three seasons, but was released by both teams. He signed with the Falcons in 2022.

Now Hodge is in his third season with Atlanta. He scored his first career touchdown in 2022, and that was still his only career score as of Thursday.

It’s safe to say he made the most of Career Touchdown #2.