How Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is forming his own legacy at TCU

Former TCU great and Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson struck fear in the hearts of many NFL defenders that had the misfortune of lining up against him.

That wasn’t the case for Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, Tomlinson’s nephew and one of the best cornerbacks in the Big 12 since he arrived at TCU in 2019.

When he was a freshman in high school, Hodges-Tomlinson had the belief that he should’ve won every rep against his uncle when they trained together. It didn’t matter that Tomlinson had more than 4,700 receiving yards in his illustrious NFL career.

For Hodges-Tomlinson it was about his competitive nature and not fearing any receiver he faced, even his uncle. That spirit and that fire is what led his uncle to believe his nephew could go far.

He was right.

Hodges-Tomlinson has become TCU’s lockdown cornerback.

“Tre showed a drive man. When he was younger when I would come around he would always tug on me and say ‘Uncle you can’t beat me running, I’m faster than you,’ ” Tomlinson said. “He was that type of kid.”

That same attitude led Hodges-Tomlinson to be voted as a two-time first team All-Big 12 corner. He’s continued to shine as he’s forced a turnover in three straight for games for the undefeated Horned Frogs who take their 9-0 record to Austin against Texas on Saturday night.

It’s also helped him forge his own legacy in Fort Worth as not just the nephew of an all-time great, but also as one of the more decorated secondary players to play at TCU.

It was never about trying to outshine his uncle’s legendary career at TCU and in the NFL that included him being a NFL MVP and Heisman Trophy finalist. It was about trying to honor the impact he had on him as football player and as a young man.

“He’s continued to mentor me and lead me in the right ways. I’m just very thankful for my uncle,” Hodges-Tomlinson said. “He became a guardian early on in my life and he’s been nothing but a blessing.”

The path to greatness

What separates talented players from the great ones is the drive to be great, the desire to continue to improve and never be complacent. Tomlinson was pleasantly surprised at how early Hodges-Tomlinson showed that mentality.

“Going into his freshman year in high school, this kid called me and he said, ‘Uncle I want to come up there and train with you,” Tomlinson said. “I was like what? Okay, all right.”

Tomlinson has an open-door policy for all his nephews that want to train and work on their craft. Hodges-Tomlinson was the youngest of the bunch to show interest of putting in the time.

His uncle’s workouts were rumored to be grueling as they were straight from the NFL, a big jump up for a player that was still learning the competition level of high school varsity football.

“He lived with me during the summer and I was training him like the pros. He was a 14-year-old kid, but he’s gonna train like the pros,” Tomlinson said. “He threw up, he went through it. I thought I worked him out enough that he would go back home and be like ‘I ain’t messing with unc no more.’ ”

As he quickly learned, his nephew wasn’t the type to back down. The following summer, Tomlinson got a call that Hodges-Tomlinson wanted to return and keep grinding.

“I knew we had something then,” Tomlinson said.

Those grueling workouts where he was physically and mentally tested hardened Hodges-Tomlinson’s desire to be great. Making the most of his time with his uncle was natural to him. How could he want to truly be successful if he didn’t tap in to one of the best resources anybody could find with the knowledge of one of the best running backs to ever play the game.

“I’ve always wanted to be great. That was the main focus and that was the main goal,” Hodges-Tomlinson said. “It’s just to be one of the greatest to ever play this game. Having my uncle that has that experience, the coaching and training he was providing me, I was taking that on as a gift. Whenever I would go train with him, I took that on as a serious situation.”

He took it so serious when he was beaten by Tomlinson’s array of professionally-refined moves when he covered him on the field.

“He wanted to beat me. He hated to lose,” Tomlinson said. “I’ll run routes for him and hit him with some NFL stuff and he’ll be mad that I beat him, but he’ll want to do it again. It’s that competitive nature of not wanting to lose a rep and I see that on the field.”

Hodges-Tomlinson says that line of thinking was always in him.

“I’ve just always been confident. I didn’t care what level it was, How how much more older you were than me,” Hodges-Tomlinson said. “I’ve always wanted to be the best out there. I’ve always wanted to be I’ve always wanted to win that rep. It would frustrate me because I’m understanding that another man just beat me at something.

“That’s one of my biggest fears man, to let another man win something over me. So for him to keep beating me on those routes man it was frustrating.”

That frustration built up his skillset that he’s using now in the Big 12. It also helped bolster his already overflowing confidence.

Tomlinson made sure that his nephew understood that he had to train more than his body and footwork to make it in this game.

“It’s about understanding the process, the process is what it is,” Tomlinson said. “You got to live in the now and you got to train like it. Even in the off season, it’s how you’re going to attack the offseason. It’s not just about sitting around kicking it. You say you want to be a professional, well this is what it takes.

“I told him, ‘Nephew I’ve got the plan, I’ve got the formula and I promise you if stick to it, you’re going to have an opportunity.’ ”

It was the offseason heading into his sophomore year at TCU that things really began to click for Hodges-Tomlinson and he saw the plan that his uncle laid out begin to come to fruition. Hodges-Tomlinson got his own place, began setting his own offseason training schedule. And as Tomlinson put it, gained the maturity needed to be a professional.

“I understood that football was much more than a game. It’s an everyday thing,” Hodges-Tomlinson said. “You don’t take days off, you treat every practice like a game. And just having my uncle mentor me with how I attack the season, the offseason and my workouts it was just all good for me.”

Hodges-Tomlinson earned All-American honors from the Associated Press and Pro Football Focus while earning also being a first-team All-Big 12 corner. PFF graded him as the nation’s top corner and his 13 pass breakups were the second-most nationally.

Even as teams went away from him in 2021 he still lead TCU in pass deflections and tied for the team lead with two interceptions as he earned another first team All-Big 12 spot.

“I think he’s ready now to be a professional,” Tomlinson said about his nephew’s performance on the field and maturity off of it.

But there’s an alternate universe where Hodges-Tomlinson is putting these lofty numbers up at a rival Big 12 school.

The career that almost never was

Like his uncle, Hodges-Tomlinson wasn’t the biggest recruit coming out of Waco. He was a three-star safety who had offers from Baylor, Kansas State and Texas State, but he didn’t have one from the school he truly wanted to go to.

He was set to head to Baylor until his uncle made one final call to former coach Gary Patterson.

“I said, ‘Gary, listen to me, man. I said, Baylor has offered Tre and I sure would hate for my nephew to be playing TCU the next four years at Baylor when he wants to come to TCU,’ ” Tomlinson said. “He told me when he was young he wanted to go to TCU.”

Patterson agreed with his former star player and Hodges-Tomlinson received an offer from TCU on Jan. 9, 2019, according to 247Sports. He visited two days later and committed to the Horned Frogs right after his visit as he finally lived out the first part of following in his uncle’s footsteps.

“TCU is the place I wanted to be from the jump,” Hodges-Tomlinson said. “KaVontae Turpin was one of my favorite players growing up. I loved the environment. I’m originally from Marlin, Texas, and it’s nothing but purple there so purple was my favorite color.

“I started playing defense and Coach Patterson was a great defensive mind. It was the perfect spot for me.”

Trying to live up to the a successful family member is a feeling many can relate to, but to play at the same school where your uncle was a Heisman Trophy finalist could be a daunting situation for some, but not Hodges-Tomlinson.

“It was about understanding that he’s one of the greatest to ever do it, but I’m not competing with family,” Hodges-Tomlinson said. “I’m very grateful for what my uncle did do and what he’s done. It’s a legendary career, I’m just trying to be great as well and pick up from those footsteps and continue out the legacy.”

Cementing his own legacy

As the Horned Frogs sit 9-0, Hodges-Tomlinson is a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe award, annually given to the nation’s best defensive back.

According to PFF, he’s allowing completions on just 40% of attempts his way and has three pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Head coach Sonny Dykes says he’s coming into his own as TCU gets deeper into the season.

“He’s playing really good football. He started slow, it probably took him a month to get where he needed and where he wanted to be,” Dykes said. “Since then he’s played like we expected him to play. He’s got a lot of confidence, he’s very competitive. When you sit down and say what are the characteristics of a cornerback it begins with competitive and confidence.”

That confidence is easy to see on the field and even in his press conferences. When asked how he would after his uncle in pads, there’s no hesitation from Hodges-Tomlinson.

“Like any other running back I’m gonna hit him,” Hodges-Tomlinson said.

When word reached back to Tomlinson, he couldn’t help but laugh.

“See that confidence? That’s what I’m talking about,” Tomlinson said. “He’s got to remember, unc’s got one of the best stiff arms in the game though.”

Unc’s a pretty good trainer and mentor too. And nothing has brought Tomlinson joy like seeing his nephew live up to his potential.

“Words really don’t describe the way I feel. You know, I’m super happy,”Tomlinson said. “I’ve seen him work his butt off just for an opportunity. I did know he has what it takes now and I’m ultra proud.”