If that's the case, then Ferentz might have the opportunity to coach the brother of Hawkeye starting linebacker Abdul Hodge.
"That'd be cool," Hodge said.
Elijah Hodge, a 6-foot, 195-pound linebacker from Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will be among the football recruits visiting campus this weekend.
"I'm working a little bit on him, but I'm also staying a little bit out of it," Abdul Hodge said. "It's his decision. I'm not going to force him into doing something he doesn't want to do. He knows things have been going well for me, that it's a good program, and that there's a good coaching staff here."
The Hawkeyes and Ohio State are among the schools the younger Hodge is considering.
"When he gets here this weekend, I'll get a chance to talk to him about that," Abdul said.
Abdul, a junior, also will reassure his brother that he will be around for his senior season.
"People ask me on campus, 'Are you leaving?' " Hodge said. "I tell them I'm coming back, but they're going to believe whatever they want to believe. Me and my family haven't even talked about it."