Eron Hodges Joins Oregon State Football as General Manager, Bringing Deep Recruiting Pedigree and Player Development Experience
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State football is turning the page and writing a new chapter under Head Coach JaMarcus Shephard, and one of the first major moves is a significant one: the hiring of Eron Hodges as General Manager. For a program looking to build from the inside out, Hodges brings exactly the kind of experience, connections, and mindset that can help shape a winning culture.
Coach Shephard didn’t hold back when introducing Hodges, calling him a key figure in the success of multiple top-tier college programs. “Eron Hodges has been involved with some of the most elite coaches in college football and around elite players all throughout the country,” Shephard said.
“He’s played a pivotal role in assuring the programs he’s worked at have had success-not just on the field, but in building relationships with players, their families, and everyone who’s part of their journey. We’re thrilled to have him at Oregon State.”
That praise isn’t just lip service. Hodges’ resume reads like a roadmap through some of the most competitive recruiting landscapes in college football.
Most recently, he spent two seasons at Alabama as Associate Director of Player Personnel-no small feat considering the Crimson Tide’s relentless standard of excellence. Before that, he held key roles at TCU, Louisville, Texas Tech, Purdue, and Ohio State, consistently helping to elevate recruiting operations and player development.
At TCU, Hodges wore multiple hats-serving as Director of Recruiting and contributing as a defensive analyst, particularly with the cornerbacks. That kind of dual-role versatility is rare, and it speaks to his football IQ and ability to connect with both coaches and players. His one-year stints at Louisville and Texas Tech continued that trend, where he again balanced recruiting responsibilities with defensive analysis.
But it was at Purdue where Hodges made a particularly strong mark. During his three years as Director of Player Personnel, he helped the Boilermakers land their highest-rated recruiting class in over a decade. That group was ranked No. 25 nationally by 247Sports-a major statement for a program that had been searching for consistency on the recruiting trail.
Hodges’ foundation in recruiting was built at Ohio State, where he spent three years as Assistant Director of Player Personnel. He initially joined the Buckeyes in 2015 as a recruiting analyst after working as a strength and conditioning coach. That blend of physical development and talent evaluation has become a hallmark of his approach.
His coaching roots go even deeper. Hodges started out as a graduate assistant at Kent State, working with linebackers, and also spent time on the sidelines at Valparaiso and Saint Joseph’s. He began his career in collegiate athletics at Notre Dame in 2012 as a strength and conditioning coach-a role that helped shape his understanding of the full athlete development process.
Before his career in football, Hodges served four years in the U.S. Navy, an experience that undoubtedly shaped his leadership style and work ethic. After his service, he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Illinois State in 2012 and later completed a master’s in sports management at Kent State in 2015.
As Hodges put it himself, Oregon State is “a hidden gem in college football,” and he’s ready to get to work. “I’m ecstatic to roll up my sleeves with Coach Shephard and this elite staff and dig until we unearth all the gems within this team,” he said. “We want to build a program that our former players, alumni, fans, and administration will be proud of once again.”
His appointment is pending the completion of university hiring processes, but make no mistake-this is a foundational hire. With Hodges overseeing roster construction, recruiting strategy, and player development, Oregon State is putting key pieces in place to build something sustainable.
The Beavers are making moves with purpose, and with Hodges now in the fold, they’ve added a proven builder who knows how to find and develop talent-and just as importantly, how to connect with the people behind the helmets.