In desperate need of big, athletic linemen – coach Ron Turner plans to recruit five young giants on offense and perhaps four on defense – the Illini have an advantage in the all-out chase for 280-pound south suburban standout Aaron Hodges.

"We're close," said Aaron of his brother Brian Hodges, the UI's starting tight end.

"We're just two years apart. When I was a sophomore at (Olympia Fields) Rich Central, they moved me up to the varsity, and I was able to play with Brian that season. I would enjoy playing with him again. I'll be visiting Northwestern next weekend and I have several other trips, but I may not take them. I had my official visit at Illinois during the bye weekend. I'm leaning to Illinois."

Two years ago Brian Hodges was a star quarterback with a powerful arm. But Aaron anticipated the move that happened after last fall, when Brian was redshirted.

"I figured Brian would wind up at linebacker (which he also played at Rich Central) or maybe tight end because he has good hands," said Aaron. "At first he was a little upset with the move, but he adjusted."

Size is in the family genes

Brian Hodges, listed at 255 pounds, doesn't shy away from the physical side of it. Size and aggressiveness are deep in the family genes, the brothers pointing to father Alan's brother, who stretches to 6-feet-8, and to their mother's brother, Leonard Kenebrew, who was Indiana's leading receiver in 1984.

Now Aaron Hodges, a two-way lineman coming off a splendid season, projects as potentially the best of the bunch. Arguably, he was the most efficient offensive linemen in the state this year, grading out better with college scouts than even Hinsdale South's more highly touted Tony Pape (6-7, 295), who became all-everything a year ago in the wake of an eye-popping junior campaign.

Lou Narish, veteran Tinley Park coach, went so far as to label Aaron Hodges "the best offensive lineman I've seen in our conference (SICA Green) in 20 years."

Said third-year Rich Central coach Jon McLaughlin:

"There are several things we look for as we grade game film. One is pancake blocks, in which he takes a defender off his feet or on his back. Aaron had 52 pancakes in eight games (he missed one game in a 4-5 season due to a sore shoulder). Another is when he gets into a block and moves the guy so far that they're off the film. He also had a number of those."

McLaughlin ran a double-wing formation and placed Hodges at a position where he could pull and trap in either direction.

"He loves to do that," said the coach. "I think Brian ran even better than Aaron, but Aaron is more aggressive. Aaron could pretty much play any of the five line positions. He's that versatile.

"As for where he's going to college, I don't know. For a while it looked like Northwestern was in the lead. Now, it could be different. Illinois is in the picture, and I know those brothers are close."

Illini need early momentum

Aaron is vital to Turner's plans as the UI coach seeks more strength and athleticism up front. He already has Marist's 6-6 defensive end Mike O'Brien. With St. Charles 240-pound defender Gabe Nyenhuis committed to Northwestern and the widely-recruited Pape in the long-shot category, the Illini need Hodges and Thornwood's 245-pound defensive end Darrell Campbell to get the ball rolling. The latter two are not only dominant on the field, but both have qualified academically (Campbell is called "a 4.0 student," while Hodges wrote a 22 on the ACT).

"Campbell and I were counselors at Revie Sorey's summer camp," said Aaron. "He is also down to Illinois and Northwestern. It would be nice if we could go together."

While McLaughlin thinks it would be advisable for Hodges to redshirt as a freshman, Illini coaches have indicated he can compete for J.P. Machado's vacated guard position.

In any case, Hodges and his good buddy, Campbell, are probably the UI staff's main targets on today's 63rd News-Gazette All-State team.

Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette.