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Get To Know Your Orange Man -- #33, LB Marqez Hodge

Today we get to know Marqez Hodge, a rare returning starter on defense.

By Michael Burke
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Name: Marqez Hodge

Position: Linebacker

Year: Junior

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 215

Hometown: Miami, Fla.

High School: Miami Central

2014 Stats: Hodge started all nine games he played in last season before a knee injury ended his 2014 campaign. He recorded 38 tackles, five of which were for losses.

2015 Projections: Hodge will start at weakside linebacker for the Orange, with sophomore Zaire Franklin expected to start at middle linebacker -- where Hodge played last year before his injury. Nonetheless, Syracuse will need a productive year from Hodge, one of only three returning defensive starters (four if we're counting Franklin).

How'd He Get Here: He picked Syracuse over Minnesota, West Virginia and a few other schools.

What'd Recruiting Sites Say: Three stars from Rivals, two from Scout.

Money Quote: Linebackers coach Clark Lea on Hodge:

"His command on the field, his command of the defense, his communication, all the things we challenged him with, really that we've been challenging him with since the spring, all those things he's really come into his own here recently."

Links Of Wonder: Telley Lockette, Hodge's high school coach, was saying "hard-nosed" even before Scott Shafer began doing the same. Go figure.

Twitterfeed: Doesn't look like he has one.

Tweets Of Wonder: Hodge scored a touchdown against Central Michigan last year. Check it out:

What Does Shafer Think Of Him: Shafer praised both Hodge and Franklin in April.

Interesting Nugget O'Interest: Despite only having three of them, Hodge finished with the second most sacks among SU players last year. Sack leader Cameron Lynch graduated, meaning more responsibility is going to fall on Hodge to pressure the quarterback.

Let's Get A Good Look Atcha: From Hodge's high school days:

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