This “Gator” Has A Fearsome Bite

[gafin]

[h=3]Hoskins showed a knack at Marshall for chewing up opposing defenses in consistently finding the end zone.[/h]It all worked out in the end.

Harold “Gator” Hoskins was a wing-T high school quarterback who went to Marshall University with the idea of playing wide receiver. His coaches instead thought he might be better suited to play safety and perhaps move to linebacker if he bulked up. But then Hoskins showed up weighing 225 pounds and the decision was made to put him at tight end.

Before his collegiate career was done, Hoskins also would see action at fullback, he would line up in the slot, he would be split wide.

In terms of versatility, it’s not quite in the same stratosphere as the college career of current Dolphins tight end Charles Clay, who took some snaps at quarterback and even lined up on defense, but it’s not that far.

Hoskins didn’t just play at Marshall, he excelled. More precisely, he showed a tremendous knack for finding the end zone.

Hoskins set a school record for tight ends with 10 touchdown receptions as a junior in 2012 and shattered that mark last fall when he had 15 TD catches. That was seven more than any other tight end in the FBS (formerly Division I-A) ranks.

The career total of 28 touchdown receptions — Hoskins also scored three times as a sophomore — ranks third in school history behind second-place Darius Watts and all-time leader Randy Moss.
It’s just hard work,” said Hoskins, who had two touchdowns during one of the OTA practices that was open to the media. “Some would say I’m lucky, but I’ll say it’s hard work. Going over in practice, running those same plays every day in practice and (quarterback Rakeem) Cato throwing me the ball and I’m coming down with it. So I’ll just say it comes from hard work.”

When he first arrived at Marshall, incidentally, folks at the West Virginia school thought the nickname came from Hoskins having grown up in Gainesville, Fla. — you know, home of the Florida Gators.

Turns out Hoskins’s hometown has nothing to do with Gator in this case.

“My father gave it to me as soon as I was born,” Hoskins said of his nickname. “He got a lot of different stories why he gave me the name, but it just stuck with me since birth. I was born in California, so I was Gator in California.

“There’s a lot of different stories, but no matter what I just like going by Gator.”

http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/a...ome-Bite/ba1b6e3b-5f7b-437e-afb4-bc16d46221f5


Good name for a football player. Hope he can make the team and help the Dolphins in the redzone.

 

[fisi]

Didn't he just got released for a DB week ago ???

 

[gafin]

Didn't he just got released for a DB week ago ???

A CB named Anthony Gaitor was cut, and a tight end named Emmanuel Ogbuehi was cut.

 

[nick1]

looks good we can have fullhouse sets with 2 WRs and 3 HBs with Clay and Gator on the sides and Miller being the deep HB. its an idea

 

[roy_miami]

Most exciting addition of the draft for me. He has one of the best highlight packages I`ve ever seen, right up there with Russell Wilson and the opposite of players like Michael Egnew and Daniel Thomas.

 

[datruth55]

Not sure what we're looking for at TE. We have Clay who is a downfield threat but we don't really have (not proven anyway) a blocking TE which is where Arthur Lynch and Sims are battling for then you have Egnew and Hoskins...not sure what Egnew brings to the table but supposedly this offense suits him so if it doesn't happen now for him then it's never going to happen. I see us keeping max 4 TEs, more likely just the normal 3.

Only TE that's a lock on this roster is Clay IMO.

 

[mahmacoat]

we need a catch-all thread for camp-fodder talk

 

[Built2Win]

il be shocked if he does not make the roster

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Like that he breaks tackles and seems to have some run after the catch ability. Looks like a running back with the ball in his hands, which begs the question whether or not he could play running back. Might have that versatility to play several position. Will be interesting to see if he makes the team.

 

[roy_miami]

Not sure what we're looking for at TE. We have Clay who is a downfield threat but we don't really have (not proven anyway) a blocking TE which is where Arthur Lynch and Sims are battling for then you have Egnew and Hoskins...not sure what Egnew brings to the table but supposedly this offense suits him so if it doesn't happen now for him then it's never going to happen. I see us keeping max 4 TEs, more likely just the normal 3.

Only TE that's a lock on this roster is Clay IMO.

Hoskins caught a TD pass during otas on a play that featured 3 TEs, I'm thinking we'll need at least 4.

 

[datruth55]

Hoskins caught a TD pass during otas on a play that featured 3 TEs, I'm thinking we'll need at least 4.

Then which 5 WRs do we keep? Do we need TEs more than receivers in this offense? I'm struggling with which 5 WRs we keep more than which "4" TEs we keep since outside of Clay none of these guys are must keep players. I would be more inclined to keep 6 WRs than 4 TEs.

 

[One Love]

Not sure what we're looking for at TE. We have Clay who is a downfield threat but we don't really have (not proven anyway) a blocking TE which is where Arthur Lynch and Sims are battling for then you have Egnew and Hoskins...not sure what Egnew brings to the table but supposedly this offense suits him so if it doesn't happen now for him then it's never going to happen. I see us keeping max 4 TEs, more likely just the normal 3.

Only TE that's a lock on this roster is Clay IMO.

Just curious how is this offense advantageous for Egnew? I still have the slightest hope that he can turn the lights on and prove to us that he's the seam threat TE we thought we were getting.

BOOM this is the year that Egnew breaks out! :tumbleweed:

 

[roy_miami]

Then which 5 WRs do we keep? Do we need TEs more than receivers in this offense? I'm struggling with which 5 WRs we keep more than which "4" TEs we keep since outside of Clay none of these guys are must keep players. I would be more inclined to keep 6 WRs than 4 TEs.

Get rid of Moore or Devlin and keep Jensen on the practice squad as our third QB.

 

[BenchFiedler]

Get rid of Moore or Devlin and keep Jensen on the practice squad as our third QB.

Moore is one of the top-five backups in the league.

 

[datruth55]

Get rid of Moore or Devlin and keep Jensen on the practice squad as our third QB.

A backup QB is more valuable than a 4th TE any day of the week and twice on Sunday's. You still haven't answered the question. Which 5 WRs are you keeping? Hartline, Wallace and Landry are locks. Gibson and Binns are coming off of injury but Binns made some plays in OTAs and he's 6'3" in a WR corp full of average sized players. Hazel has shown flashes and may be worth developing. If he shows anything during preseason he'll be tough to keep on the PS. Then you've got Rishard Matthews who continues to develop and Damian Williams who can be a return man as well. Then there's Ryan Spadola who was on the practice squad last year and may be the 2nd fastest player of all the WRs. Who's your 5?