He’s one of the most decorated athletes in middle school sports across Kentucky in both basketball and football. He will be entering the 8th grade next Fall and his athletic feats are already legendary. He’s someone Tennessee has to dread seeing June 15th position under center. He’s North Oldham’s, Cole Hodge.
One of the more poignant moments in the history of the Kentucky-Tennessee classic occurred in the press box (of all places) immediately following last year’s Classic at Georgetown College. Fletcher Long was covering the event for KPGFootball as will be the case this year too.
Long tells me some of the 7th grade, Tennessee coaches had made their way up to the press box during the 8th grade game. Cole Hodge, then transitioning from the 6th to 7th grade, had just led Kentucky back from a 20-7 deficit with a little over 7 minutes to go in the game to tie the score at the end of regulation, 28-all, before leading Kentucky to a game-winning, overtime field goal. This was Kentucky’s first win in the history of the 7th grade game and broke the collective hearts of the Tennessee Future Stars-7th team.
Long looked at the Tennessee coaches and said, “Just think boys, you get this same QB again next year.” The coaches looked at Long and said “He’ll be the 8th-grade staff’s problem then.” To which Long replied, “No sir, y’all just got turned out by a 6th grader, he’s back in the 7th grade game again next year.” Long said the coaches looked none too pleased to learn this.
For his efforts, Hodge was selected the Offensive MVP of the 7th grade Classic. I wonder if any player in series history has ever won Offensive MVP of the 7th grade Future Stars game, two consecutive years? While there will be stiff competition vying for the award, it is possible we’re about to witness just that. Some would contend the contingency to be “probable.”
The seventh grade Team Kentucky Future Stars have two players selected for QB who may be the best two QB’s in the same class, at this level of play, in the history of the commonwealth. They are as different as night and day.
One of the two, Joshuah Keith, is a dual-threat guy who will break you down with his feet and can still kill you with his arm. The other, Cole Hodge, is a drop-back, pro-style QB who will kill you, down the field, and can break you down with his feet, when needed.
At KPGFootball, if you are trying to tell us there is a better football player presently in the commonwealth of Kentucky’s 7th grade than North Oldham’s Cole Hodge, don’t waste your breath. You’re wrong.
There was a time when we thought Hodge to be definitively the best QB in the 2024 class. Keith’s play has elevated to the point where there may be two-top QBs bracketed at No. 1. Man, will Future Stars’ camp ever be fun to watch this year?!
Cole Hodge is not just one of the best QBs in the 7th grade, but the same would be true of Hodge if he were in the classes of 2023, 2022, or even 2021.
As far as his being an athlete, Cole is a star in basketball which gives us a favorable impression of both his athleticism and feet. As a basketball player, Hodge has made All-State, Division 1, two consecutive years in leading his AAU basketball team to the championship levels of play. Hodge is a two-time, National NYBL AAU Circuit All-American. Not too shabby for someone’s “second” sport.
As for us Kentuckians, how can we be better prepared to meet Tennessee on the field of battle than with a field general who improbably “slew the dragon” just last summer? For the Tennessee 7th-grade Future Stars’ coaching staff, seeing Hodge trot back out to take snaps under center at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville, Tennessee for the 7th grade Kentucky team for the second consecutive year…well, one really shouldn’t expect them to be too thrilled about that!
This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!
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