Missouri may have beaten Arkansas on the field, but the Razorbacks snagged a win off of it by flipping a top Tiger recruit.
TJ Hodges, a four-star running back who had been committed to Missouri since October, has flipped his commitment to the hometown Arkansas Razorbacks.
BREAKING: Four-Star RB TJ Hodges has Flipped his Commitment from Missouri to Arkansas, he tells me for @rivals⁰
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 1, 2025
The 6’1 185 RB from Bryant, AR had been Committed to the Tigers since October ⁰⁰“Luke 12:48”⁰https://t.co/M54jIUR1PM pic.twitter.com/yzwqziufp5
Tigers lose a top recruit of 2026 amidst a crowded RB room
Hodges, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound running back from Arkansas, flipped to his home state on Monday. He had been committed to the Tigers for the past month and a half, but a new coaching staff in Fayetteville pushed to get the running back to return home. As a senior, he has had 100 carries for 902 rushing yards, as well as 11 receptions for 205 yards and 11 total touchdowns. He was the No. 18 ranked running back in the class.
While it always hurts to lose a top recruit, things aren't all bad for the Tigers. Ahmad Hardy, the second leading rusher in the nation, has a firm grip on the starting job, and recently expressed excitement over the Eli Drinkwitz extension. Sophomore Jamal Roberts also had an outstanding season, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. While a transfer is always possible for either, Hardy or Roberts' return would make it near impossible for Hodges to see the field as a freshman.
After losing TJ Hodges, Missouri now has 21 commitments in their 2026 class. The class, which still boasts multiple four-star recruits, currently ranks 25th in the country according to 247Sports.