By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Humble and quiet are two words to describe the demeanor of Munford senior Icarius Hodgin.
So the former Cougar allowed his hits, tackles, interceptions and big-play capability to do the talking for him. The past two seasons worth of highlights grabbed the attention of several college coaches including Belhaven Blazers leader Blaine McCorkle.
Belhaven Defensive Backs Coach Alvin Vaughn made Hodgin a must-have prospect and recruited the two-time Region 8-5A Defensive Player of the Year heavy. The effort worked with Hodgin signing his national letter of intent to the school in Mississippi March 1 in the Munford High School Cafeteria.
“When the Coach came and talked to me and Auvic (White), he’s on the defensive side,” Hodgin recalled. “He made it pretty clear he’s out looking for playmakers at DB. He made it clear that I was a top prospect at the safety position. He wanted me at free safety and I’ll be down in the box a lot. He made it clear that’s the spot he wanted me for. He made me a priority and I felt like I was wanted.”
Hodgin was joined by his parents Rico and Candace for the ceremony along with all the Munford coaches and players.
“I never heard him complain one time,” Munford Head Coach Slade Calhoun said. “He’s never had a complaint come out of his mouth. He’s never anything to a coach beside ‘Yes Sir, No Sir.’ Just an ultimate competitor. He refuses to back down. He started his sophomore year and I witnessed him tackling some kids twice as big as he did in the 10th grade. He’s always had a goal of playing in college and now he has that opportunity.”
The player known as “Iceman” and “Ice” blazed his path to college football almost a decade ago.
“He really did all the work,” Candace said. “He’s just had a passion for football since he was itty bitty. He started in Munford Rec at the age of 9.”
Rico said early on his son’s skills were used on the offensive side of the ball as a running back and receiver. Along with speed, Rico noted Icarius had a humility that also impressed others.
“We always told him to follow your heart and we’ll support you,” he said. “That’s what he’s always done. He’s always been the easy one. He’s just naturally courteous. He’s got his mind set on his goals, he has his blinders on and focuses on making his dreams a reality.
“We’ve always gotten compliments since he was a little baby on the good job we’ve done,” Rico continued. “I was like, ‘We are great parents but he’s naturally that way.’”
Icarius’ approach to life became his trademark in the Munford locker room. But once he stepped over those white lines on Friday night, the Iceman cometh.
“He’s so reserved,” Rico said. “That’s where he’s nickname Iceman comes from — Ice. He doesn’t need the attention. But when that whistle blows and it’s time to compete, that’s when you say, ‘Where did he come from?’”
“That’s the only time he’s swagged is out there on the football field,” Candace added. “Everywhere he’s so humble and reserved. He gets cocky on the field and that’s the only time. He doesn’t mind doing it there.”
Part of Icarius’ on-the-field legacy will be his 9 interceptions in 2020 that led the State.
“He had offers from schools in Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia and Belhaven down there in Mississippi,” Calhoun said. “He’s had a ton of opportunities. I can’t be any more excited for him than I am.
“He led the state in interceptions as a junior,” he continued. “He was defensive player of the year for the Region two years in a row. He was All-Shelby Metro last year. He was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. He was two time All-State and Preseason All-State. If there was an award, he’s basically got it. He’s got the Daily Memphian, All-Shelby Metro. You name it, he can do it.”
Icarius said all the awards helped him reach his childhood dream of being the next Troy Polamalu.
“He is someone I looked up to because he was one of the best safeties to ever play the game,” Icarius said. “He’s one of the main reasons I like playing safety.
“It’s surprising but honestly it hit me suddenly because I knew what I could do,” he added. “But once I look at what I have done I didn’t know it would be this good. It leaves me speechless.”
Hodgin said the other key factor to him reaching his dream of playing college football is the duo of Rico and Candace.
“They’re support means everything,” he said. “I wouldn’t be the young man I am without them. I love them and I know they love me. They gave me everything a kid could ask for. I just love them.”
And he wanted to express gratitude to the staff that believe in his skills as a sophomore.
“ Good players are good players,” Iceman said. “But good coaches put those players in position to make good plays and go out and do what they can do. I feel Coach Calhoun and the rest of the coaches put me in the right positions to make the play I could to be successful.”
Success came in the team form as well for Hodgin and the Class of 2022. Undefeated in M&M Bowls and other big wins accompanied the back-to-back Region 8-5A titles.
“Winning the Region championship this year meant a lot, especially going down to Crump Stadium beating a team everyone thought would be us,” Hodgin recalled. “We proved all the haters wrong and that game specificity meant everything and put Munford on the map I think.”
Now Hodgin’s next stop on the map will be Jackson, Miss., to compete in the American Southwest Conference in NCAA Division III. That achievement adds to his football legacy at Munford.
“I wasn’t a big talker,” he noted. “I kept the talker to myself. I kept it very quiet. I just let my talent and physical play do the talking. It’s meant to be and I just let my actions do the talking.”
Rico and Candace said that will be their son’s biggest impact on the Cougar Football family in the immediate future.
“Just being a good role model for the younger ones and the team,” Candace said. “He was a good person to look up to.”
“He provided humble leadership,” Rico concluded.
