The first thing Elijah Hodge did upon meeting Jonathan Casillas was apologize.
It's kind of funny, because me and Elijah were on our (official) visit together when we were seniors in high school,"" said Casillas, a junior linebacker. ""He called me out a little bit, because we were being recruited at the same position.
""I think he said something like, 'I feel bad for coming here,' and I was like, 'Why? I don't understand?', and he was like, 'Because you're going to be playing behind me for four years.'""
As it turns out, Hodge would take a redshirt year in 2005 and not have the chance to take Casillas' position as a freshman one year later, backing up Mark Zalewski instead.
This season, however, Hodge is succeeding right next to Casillas as a starter, along with second-year starter junior DeAndre Levy.
Hodge, a sophomore in eligibility, has emerged as a playmaker on one of the most talented linebacking corps UW has ever seen. Hodge has made several big plays for the Badger defense in the first two games, including a fourth-and-one stop of UNLV quarterback Travis Dixon deep in UW territory in the second quarter of last Saturday's 20-13 triumph over the Rebels.
He leads the No. 7 Badgers with 17 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss, tied for most on the team.
""Right now, I'm just trying to take it day by day to get better,"" Hodge said of his play thus far. ""There are different types of leaders. There are vocal leaders and leaders that just go out there and do it every day. I'm a little bit of both.""
Hodge was recruited out of Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., by then-defensive coordinator and current head coach Bret Bielema, who also recruited his brother Abdul to Iowa as an assistant in 2001. After a four-year career as a linebacker with the Hawkeyes, Abdul was drafted in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.
""Obviously he's a great linebacker and a great leader,"" Elijah Hodge said. ""He's a great guy to look up to, a mentor to me. He's always calling me, giving me tips on how to be a better linebacker, how to be a better student in school and how to be a better person all around.""
Hodge fought through several ""nagging"" injuries in fall camp and practiced a full week for the first time since camp began, Bielema said in his weekly news conference. Despite the injuries, Hodge has managed to improve his pass coverage skills, according to Badger defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz.
""He does a good job of reading the quarterback, breaking on the ball and relying on that ability,"" Hankwitz said. ""He's gotten better at consistency, execution, being in the right spot ... he was doing that in the spring, and he got held back a little this fall. But now he's starting to progress again.""
Other than the competitive fire Hodge displayed upon first meeting him, Casillas mentioned Hodge's instincts as a football player as an area his teammate excels in.
""He's probably one of the most instinctive players on the defense,"" Casillas said. ""He can read plays, he can dissect plays, his film study is great - he just has a great work ethic.""
Hodge credits his relationship with Casillas, along with other recruits of the 2005 class, for making him a better player on the field.
""When we're not playing football, you can always see us together,"" Hodge said. ""It's a friendship and a brotherhood, and that's why it carries onto the field. You always see us joking around, but we also take care of business together.""
