Rutgers Linebackers Coach Elijah Hodge Hosts Spring Practice Press Conference

After giving the media a chance to speak to head coach Greg Schiano, offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarocca, and defensive coordinator Travis Johansen, the program has started the press conferences where members of the media can ask questions to position coaches. This time, it was new linebackers coach Elijah Hodge’s turn at the podium, having the chance to speak publicly in front of the media for the first time since joining the Knights coaching staff. One of the questions asked during the press conference had to do with his early impressions of Kamar Archie and where he thinks he is in his development.

Hodge talked about his work ethic, how he comes to practice and CHOP’s every day and how he is very responsive to the staff’s efforts to coach him up and refine his game. The next question had to do with how Hodge has seen the Big ten change since his as a player time at Wisconsin. He mentioned how before, be believes the Big Ten was more smash-mouth football and how different offensive schemes have changed that, but that everything is still about the fundamentals, blocking and tackling.

In a follow up question, Hodge was asked what he looks for in a Big Ten linebacker. “To be honest with you, the first thing I look for is violence, all right? Violence is a non-negotiable, you have to play the game the right way.

Then after that, it’s strain. What I mean by strain, it’s just giving a draw, right, a max effort. Every single play is a max effort, and then after that is intelligence.