Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson shares a famous family last name.
LIVE: Follow Michigan vs. TCU in College Football Playoff semifinals
Like his uncle, the TCU cornerback brings the game to go with it. Hodges-Tomlinson is the nephew of LaDainian Tomlinson, the Hall of Fame running back whose career started with the Horned Frogs in college.
Hodges-Tomlinson, who won the Thorpe Award given to the nation's top cornerback this season, does not shy away from talking about the family name either.
"The Tomlinson name means a lot," Hodges-Tomlinson said via Dave Campbell's Texas Football. "He set the foundation and the standard for how to perform at this level. It isn't pressure because I know that I have the ability and mentality to achieve things, as well."
Hodges-Tomlinson is one of the key players for No. 3 TCU (12-1) heading into Saturday's College Football Playoff matchup against No. 2 Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl.
MORE: Watch College Football Playoff games live with fuboTV (free trial)
For those who have not seen Tomlinson play – or don't remember his famous uncle – here is a little more on both.
Is Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson related to LaDainian Tomlinson?
Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
Although he plays on the opposite side of the ball, Hodges-Tomlinson has piled up accolades during his four seasons at TCU just like his uncle.
MORE: Sporting News 2022 College Football All-America Team
How Hodges-Tomlinson became an All-American
Hodges-Tomlinson was a three-star recruit out of Midway High School in Waco, Texas, and he has been a standout in the secondary for the last three years for the Horned Frogs. Hodges-Tomlinson had 13 pass breakups in seven games as a sophomore, and had two interceptions and seven pass breakups as a junior.
Hodges-Tomlinson bypassed the NFL Draft to return for his senior season, and he was a leader for the Horned Frogs. He had 42 tackles, three interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
According to Pro Football Focus, Hodges-Tomlinson allowed the lowest catch percentage among defensive backs who played 80% of their team's snaps. He allowed 26 catches on 70 targets – a 37.1% percentage. Hodges-Tomlinson did have 10 penalties, but his reputation as a lock-down cornerback stands out.
Hodges-Tomlinson was a Sporting News first-team All-American, and he is the second TCU defensive back to win the Thorpe Award in the last two years. Trevon Moehrig won the award in 2020.
How LaDainian Tomlinson put TCU on the map
Tomlinson played running back at TCU from 1997-2000, and he finished with 5,387 yards and 56 TDs in those four seasons. LT was a highlight-reel force while the Horned Frogs played in the Western Athletic Conference.
Tomlinson was more dominant during his final two seasons. He rushed for 1,974 yards and 20 TDs as a junior in 1999 then followed up with 2,158 yards as a senior in 2000.
The Horned Frogs won 10 games in Tomlinson's senior season, and Gary Patterson took over and built the program from there.
LaDainian Tomlinson single-game rushing record
Tomlinson set the FBS record for single-game rushing yards on Nov. 20, 1999 in a 52-24 blowout against UTEP. Tomlinson had 43 carries for 406 yards and six TDs. That single-game record stood until Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon broke it with 408 yards on Nov. 15, 2014. Oklahoma's Samaje Perine reset the record with 427 yards the following week.
Buffalo's Jaret Patterson rushed for 409 yards on Nov. 28, 2000. That is the exclusive 400-yard club.
MORE: TCU's Sonny Dykes named Sporting News Coach of the Year
Hodges-Tomlinson led TCU to the College Football Playoff
Hodges-Tomlinson helped TCU reach the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history. TCU had success in the BCS era after Tomlinson under Gary Patterson, and the program nearly reached the College Football Playoff in 2014.
Hodges-Tomlinson was part of the breakthrough this season and will be counted on against the Wolverines. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy has just three interceptions this season on 288 attempts. How many times will McCarthy test Hodges-Tomlinson in coverage?
Following LT's NFL legacy?
LaDaininan Tomlinson went on to be one of the best running backs in NFL history. He played nine seasons and rushed for 13,684 yards, which ranks seventh all time in NFL history. Tomlinson won the NFL MVP award in 2006, was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Kids today really don't even know about Ladanian Tomlinson pic.twitter.com/5vHrhZbqaT
— Football Is Life (@FootbaIl_Tweets) December 28, 2022
NFL Draft Buzz projects Hodges-Tomlinson as a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That draft stock could jump with a strong performance in the CFP.
Either way, the Tomlinson name will be back in the NFL game soon.