The pick is in: Jaguars select Cooper Hodges 226th overall

Jacksonville takes the Appalachian State offensive lineman in the seventh round

With the 226th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars have selected App. State OL Cooper Hodges.

• Prospect name: Cooper Hodges
• Hometown: Glen St. Mary, Florida
• Position: Offensive tackle
• School: Appalachian State
• Year: Fifth-year senior
• Age at draft: 22.8
• Height: 6’ 4”
• Weight: 304
• Hand Size: 9”
• Arm Length: 33”

Player summary from Dane Brugler of The Athletic:

Cooper Hodges prepped at Baker County High (west of Jacksonville) where he lettered all four seasons on the offensive line (and fullback on goal-line runs). He led the program to a 13-2 record as a senior and the school’s first trip to the state title game. A two-star recruit, he only had a handful of FBS offers and committed to Appalachian State. He earned the starting right tackle job as a redshirt freshman and started all 51 games there the last four seasons, accumulating over 3,500 offensive snaps in App State’s zone scheme. While 99.9 percent of his snaps came at right tackle in college, he looked comfortable at guard during NFLPA practices. He is a square-framed blocker with functional foot speed, but his core stiffness restricts his flexibility. He is a mean dude who won’t pass on an opportunity to latch and bury.

Overall, Hodges is a college tackle with a potential NFL future inside at guard because of his physical hands, play strength and football IQ.

Scouting report from Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network:

Strengths: Smart, tough college right tackle who is best in a small area. Quick and explosive, stays square, and seals defenders from the action. Fires into blocks, turns defenders off the line, and opens up running lanes. Works to bend his knees, quickly gets his hands into defenders, and makes proper use of angles in pass protection.

Weaknesses: Overextends and bends at the waist. Stiffness hurts his ability to finish blocks. Rumbles around the field and is ineffective blocking in motion.

Overall: Hodges was a hard-working college lineman who comes with average size and minimal athleticism for the next level.