Tre Tomlinson is only 5-foot-9 but he’s playing more like 6-foot-1, TCU coach says
TCU cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson has always been knocked for his size. At 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, he doesn’t meet the prototypical measurements that most coaching staffs prefer for a cornerback.
Heck, of the six defensive backs signed by TCU’s new coaching staff this offseason, all of them stood at least 6-foot. But Tomlinson is an exception.
“Tre’s got that dog mentality in him,” TCU defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie said. “He knows he’s got to play with that dog mentality. He’s quick as all get out and he’s strong as a horse. For a guy that’s just a giant ball of muscle, (he) can move and can really run. We’re not going to slow down in what we do. We’re not going to change it and he doesn’t want it changed. He’s fitting right into it. We’re going to ask him to do a lot of things, just like turning and setting the edges.
“He may be 5-foot-9, but he’s playing like he’s 6-foot-1.”
Tomlinson has quieted any notion that he may not fit into Gillespie’s 3-3-5 defense early this spring. Gillespie has tended to opt for taller, longer defensive backs over the years but finding good players outweighs any measurable.
And Tomlinson has proved that he’s among the best at his position. He’s been a first-team All-Big 12 selection the past two seasons. In 2021, he finished with a team-leading seven pass breakups and two interceptions. Tomlinson also had 42 tackles on the season, showcasing his versatility by playing safety when that position became depleted with injuries.
In 2020, Tomlinson was named to multiple All-America teams and rated by Pro Football Focus as the nation’s highest-graded cornerback.
Those credentials would have suggested that he could bolt early for the NFL Draft but he’s back for his senior season. For Tomlinson, it’s about putting together even more game film for NFL teams that may have similar concerns about his size.
It’s a familiar story line in his family, of course, as his uncle LaDainian faced similar “undersized” questions before becoming a TCU legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
“You can’t measure your heart,” Tomlinson said. “There’s much more Pro Bowlers in the league who are 5-foot-9 than any other height in the league. My height has always been a knock but you can’t knock it because I’ve always been one of the greatest players in the nation. I’m continuously showing that.
“I’m going to take this game to another level. I’m coming back another year, getting much more experience, to show that it’s not a fluke of what I’ve been doing.”
Tomlinson made it clear that he returned to school to improve his draft stock. He would like to be viewed as a first-round talent.
More important, Tomlinson isn’t pleased with how TCU has fared during his time. The individual accolades are nice, but he would like to contend for a championship during his college career.
The Frogs have lost more games than they’ve won (16-18) since Tomlinson joined the program as a three-star prospect out of Waco Midway.
“I don’t want to leave college without a championship,” he said. “My work was unfinished. I’m ready to come back as a true senior and play hard for these guys. I’m just ready to play ball.”
So far, so good for Tomlinson and the rest of the team this spring. The energy level has been high throughout practices.
Frogs first-year coach Sonny Dykes credits veteran players such as Tomlinson who have embraced the new staff.
“He’s just such a good football player and brings an energy and confidence to the defense that’s contagious,” Dykes said. “He likes to compete and is not scared of anything. Typically that’s step one when it comes to being a great football player, especially at corner. It’s just a belief in yourself. You’re going to give up some plays, that’s going to happen, but to have the ability to just move on and play the next play. He’s got a great mentality that way.”
As Dykes alluded to, there’s been plenty of back-and-forth battles between Tomlinson and the receiving corps. Practice gets particularly entertaining whenever he and wide receiver Quentin Johnston are matched up together.
Johnston, who is 6-foot-4, had nothing but praise for Tomlinson.
“He definitely plays way above his height,” Johnston said. “Our coaches hold us to a standard but we hold ourselves to a way higher standard than anybody. It’s a battle.”
