Khalil Hodge needs some more love as a legit NFL prospect.

Though he plays for the Buffalo Bulls, historically a non-powerhouse in the MAC, the senior linebacker has been overshadowed by two teammates on the offensive side of the ball. Wideout Anthony Johnson -- a 6-foot-2, 205-pound, yards-after-the-catch specialist -- had 1,356 yards and 14 touchdowns on 76 receptions in 2017 and is a likely first- or second-round pick. Quarterback Tyree Jackson might even be more captivating to scouts and general managers at 6-7 and 245 pounds with plus athleticism, a monster arm, and a 30-13 touchdown-to-interception ratio to date in his career.

All Hodge did last season was finish as the nation's second-leading tackler with 153 takedowns. He also added two pass breakups, a pair of force fumbles andtwo interceptions, including this highlight-reel snag against Western Michigan.

In November 2017, I profiled then-UTSA defensive end Marcus Davenport as a sleeper prospect with "enormous NFL potential." While only time will tell if he reaches that potential in the NFL, a little more than five months after that article was published, the Saints used their 2019 first-round pick to trade up from No. 27 to No. 14 overall to select him in the 2018 draft.

Let's start this year's sleeper series with Hodge, an athletic linebacker with a refined game who's already one of the best second-level defenders in college football.

The 6-1, 235-pound senior linebacker has 18 tackles through two games, and he has broken up two passes.

By now, everyone knows speed is important for linebackers in today's NFL. Another