N.Y. Jets Punter Speaks At Lancer Basketball Camp
Anthony Gadson
Sports Writer
WINONA LAKE - For the second time in six days, Kosciusko County hosted a player from the NFL, but this one wasn't just on hand to sign autographs.
As part of Grace College's Lancer Basketball Camp, New York Jets punter Reggie Hodges spoke to the campers Tuesday at the Orthopaedic Capital Center.
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"It's nice to see someone from a rough, tough sport who still has room in his heart for God," Grace College men's basketball coach Jim Kessler told the kids.
On June 25, Brandon Foster and Travis Key of the Indianapolis Colts were in Warsaw to meet-and-greet fans, but Hodges' visit brought with it a much stronger message.
"I'm a man of God who punts," Hodges said during his introduction.
Hodges' faith has helped him in the past few years, as he's been tested during his time in the NFL.
After setting school records for punts (254) and punt yards (10,210) at Ball State University, Hodges was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, three picks ahead of Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson and 20 ahead of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassell.
However, after a rough start with his new team, he was waived early in the season, which led to his signing by the Philadelphia Eagles less than a month later. Twenty days after signing with the Eagles, the squad also cut him.
While talking to the campers, Hodges admitted he's not the same person he was when he started his NFL career.
"I was different in 2005, because I wasn't living for the Lord," Hodges said.
"Football used to come first," he added. "There was a time when God didn't come first. I didn't know Him then."
Following another signing, and subsequent cutting by the Eagles, Hodges met two men that would have a huge influence on him when he signed with the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 18, 2006.
"I met Tony Dungy and Hunter Smith," Hodges said of the former Colts coach and current punter, respectively. "I learned how to give it up for the Lord, first and foremost."
Even though Smith would go on to beat Hodges out for the punting job, the two still remain friends, as, according to Hodges, they still speak at least once or twice a week.
Hodges spent just over two weeks with the Colts before being cut, but later signed with the team again in February 2007, but it was more than football he learned with the team.
"I learned to not worry about my job as much as I learned to worry about how I could serve the Lord," Hodges said.
After getting cut by the Colts for the second time, in August of 2007, Hodges was out of the NFL for a year before signing with the Seattle Seahawks in April 2008.
While in Seattle, Hodges and some other players were instructed to take their prayer groups to a separate room, which caught him a bit off guard.
"The group definitely shrunk," Hodges said.
After he and his Christian teammates decided to disobey they rule, they once again began praying on the field. A big fight wasn't put up, but once again, he was cut late in the preseason.
After Seattle waved good-bye to him, he was almost immediately signed by the New England Patriots in September.
"I was told I would be the starting punter for the season-opener, but then I was called into the coach's office three days later and was cut," Hodges said.
After that, Hodges said he questioned why this was happening, but once again, put his trust in the Lord.
"I said, "'God, I've been going to you,'" he said.
"I think he wanted me to prove I was faithful," Hodges added. "I don't need football. I need my relationship with Jesus Christ."
The Jets went on to sign Hodges in September, but also just cut him in April, before re-signing him on June 10, putting him on the current roster.
Before going to camp for the Jets, Hodges, a Fort Wayne resident, has been working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization, which helped bring him to Winona Lake.
His message to the Kessler campers was about words, and how they can have a powerful impact.
"You can have words of hope and change," he said. "Words changed my life. They can change other lives if they're sent with a purpose.
"When a Christian man speaks, you need to understand their words mean something," he added. "When the instructors of this camp speak about the Lord with you, you need to listen."
Hodges mentioned that he's well aware how Christians may be perceived in the sports world, adding there are only five Christians who "walk and believe" in Christianity on his current team.
"Some people don't want to hear it," he said about talking about the Lord. "I don't force it on others, but you can plant seeds."
With that, he mentioned how the young campers need to keep their faith, and not give in to outside pressures.
"How you deal with peer pressure is leaning on God," Hodges said. "I encourage all of you to read something out of your bible every night. A chapter, a passage - anything. I know peer pressure can be tough, I went through it. You can just try to help others, but not align with them."
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