Iowa has found its new tight ends coach in a well-known Hawkeye in Abdul Hodge, who was a 3-time All-Big Ten linebacker.

Matt Zenitz reported that Kirk Ferentz is set to hire Hodge after he played 5 seasons in the NFL, has been the outside linebackers coach at South Dakota the last 3 years.

Hodge’s South Dakota bio explained that he was named its outside linebackers coach and NFL liaison in February of 2019. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft and spent 5 years playing in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers.

After the NFL, Hodge founded Professional Interactive Solutions in his hometown of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a company that helps businesses grow their online presence. In addition to running the business, Hodge served as an assistant coach for several high schools and was head coach and defensive coordinator at GAIN Sports in Sarasota, Florida, from 2013-16. Most recently, he served as a football consultant for Iowa and was a coaching intern for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Hodge’s hire marks a change in responsibility of Iowa OC Brian Ferentz, who switches from TE coach to QB coach. Longtime QB coach Ken O’Keefe stepped down in February.