Topic: GAINESVILLE SUN: Former Eastside tight end 'Gator' signs with Dolphins

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Gator is coming back to Florida.

Former Eastside High School standout Harold “Gator” Hoskins signed a free agent contract Monday with the Miami Dolphins.

Hoskins, whose father gave him his nickname at birth, returns to the Sunshine State following an impressive college career as a tight end for the Marshall Thundering Herd.

“I'm really happy to be closer to home,” he said. “I had a couple of teams that were options, but my agent (Jarian Lyons) and I felt like Miami would be the best fit for me.”

In three years of play, Hoskins caught 99 passes for 1,318 yards and 28 touchdowns, a total that ranks third in school history behind receivers Randy Moss (53) and Darius Watts (47).

He led the nation in consecutive years for most touchdown receptions among FBS tight ends, catching 10 in 2012 and 15 last season.

Prior to Marshall, Hoskins was a three-year starter for the Rams and earned all-area and all-state honors in both 2008 and 2009.

“Gator was a do-it-all guy for me,” said P.K. Yonge coach Kent Johnson, who coached Hoskins at Eastside. “He was the true definition of a dual-threat quarterback.”

Hoskins started at QB in the final two years of his high school career, passing for 2,477 yards and 25 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,177 yards and 22 scores as well.

“A lot of guys pile up stats, but Gator made plays in crunch time,” Johnson said. “When the chips were down, he was at his best.”

Johnson still remembers the 2008 thriller when Hoskins brought the Rams back from a 24-0 halftime deficit and scored on a 1-yard plunge with 4.3 seconds left to beat city rival Gainesville 30-27 for his 100th career victory as a coach.

“It was directly due to his ability and leadership,” Johnson said. “He kept the team up and made them believe we could win the game.”

Hoskins was recruited to Marshall as a receiver at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. But he bulked up during his first year and moved to tight end, a position he played in high school.

“He started for us there as a sophomore,” Johnson said. “He proved he could catch the ball back in those days.”

Now at 253 pounds, Hoskins will likely be used as an H-back or tight end by the Dolphins. He's already in Miami preparing for training camp.

“I've just been working out and meeting the other rookies,” Hoskins said. “The coaches are just telling me to learn the playbook. We haven't decided what my role will be. I think being able to play multiple positions helps me out. The more you can do, the better chance you have of making the team.”

“But all of this is a dream come true. Not too many guys make it where I'm from, so it's just a blessing to be here right now and have the chance to go farther in my career.”

Seeing Hoskins have this opportunity is special for Johnson, who also coached former UF and NFL tight end Cornelius Ingram at Hawthorne.

“When you look at a guy that grows up playing football and you think about the NFL, it's the ultimate dream for a kid to have that opportunity,” Johnson said. “You just like to say to local kids, 'It can happen.' It's far-fetched and not easy to happen. The most difficult thing you'll ever have to do is try to get to the top of your profession. So when you do it, it's very exciting.”

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20140515/ARTICLES/140519789/1109/sports?Title=Former-Eastside-tight-end-Gator-signs-with-Dolphins