Fusion Trades for QB

Tuesday March 27, 2007

Fusion acquires Former Texas Tech QB Cody Hodges from Oklahoma City

The Fort Wayne Fusion has announced that they have acquired quarterback Cody Hodges in a trade with the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, as approved by the league office of arenafootball2 earlier today.

Hodges was one of the nation’s most prolific passers during the 2005 NCAA football season while at Texas Tech.  He led the nation in attempts (531) and completions (353), while throwing for 4,238 yards and 31 touchdowns.  He signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and attended training camp prior to the 2006 season.

Hodges may be most remembered for his performance as a senior against Kansas State when he threw for 643 yards and five touchdowns, the fourth-best single-game performance in NCAA Division I-A history, and was named the Big 12 conference Player of the Week.  He also completed 42-of-64 pass attempts for 369 yards and two scores against eventual National Champion Texas that year.

Fusion Head Coach Eddie Brown feels Hodges could be the final piece to a possible championship puzzle in Fort Wayne.

“I have said all along, since training camp began, that I like my team where it is at right now,” Brown commented.  “Bringing in a guy like Cody just allows us to take our offense to the next level.  I think coming from a system at Texas Tech that is predicated on making good reads and placing the ball in the right spot, he is suited perfectly for the Arena game”.

QB Sonny Cumbie, a former Red Raiders teammate of Hodges whom Hodges backed-up until his senior year, is having success at the next level as the starting quarterback for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League.  Brown feels that may help his cause as well.

“[Avengers Head Coach] Ed Hodgkiss and I run the same offensive system,” said Brown.  “So I think naturally if Sonny is having success, coming from the same college as Cody, it shows the potential for Cody to be just as successful this season in Fort Wayne and hopefully be in the AFL next season”.

Hodges will battle current starter Aaron Marshall this week in camp to try and earn the staring nod for this Saturday, March 31st.  Brown also said that he was talking to a couple of teams and may also be adding another af2 veteran quarterback this week before the season kicks off.

For more information, or to get your 2007 Fusion season tickets, contact the Fusion office at (260) 484-4095 or visit www.fwfusion.com.  The Fort Wayne Fusion kicks off the inaugural 2007 season Saturday, March 31st against the defending American Conference Champion Green Bay Blizzard.