Garrett Hoskins, one of the tight ends for the Eastern Michigan University football team, is a native of Grand Rapids. He has been playing football since he was seven, when he was first introduced to football by his brother and father.
Before making the decision to continue with football, Hoskins played baseball and ran track. He said a freak injury, a broken left collarbone, ended his baseball days. Hoskins’s father Osbe played minor league baseball in the San Diego Padres system from 1982 to 1984. He was also very active in high school track.
“If it wasn’t football, it was going to be track,” Hoskins said.
Growing up, Hoskins was a big fan of the “Pokémon” and “Yu-Gi-Oh” cartoons and had over 500 Yu-Gi-Oh cards at one point.
“I would wake up at 7 just waiting for them to start at 8,” Hoskins said. Although he doesn’t watch many TV shows now, he does watch the “Family Guy” spinoff “The Cleveland Show.”
Hoskins is a self-professed movie buff. He enjoys action and comedy movies, but said his favorite movies are anything with Will Ferrell.
Hoskins said his favorite time of year is winter, but he doesn’t like having to layer his clothing.
“I love the cold, and the cold keeps the bugs away,” Hoskins said.
The football player doesn’t have many hobbies, but he does like to play video games. His favorites are the games from the “Call of Duty” franchise and “Ratchet and Clank.” Hoskins also likes watching movies with his teammates and spending free time with them.
Hoskins said that he chose EMU over the other schools that pursued him because of the full scholarship he was offered to play football.
“I had full scholarships to play [Division 2] football, but nothing from [Division 1] for a full ride,” Hoskins said. “I decided to take the opportunity they gave and come here.”
Hoskins is a criminal justice major, and he hopes to go to law school after leaving EMU to someday become a lawyer. Hoskins said his favorite class is community corrections with his favorite professor Brian Wilcox.
Hoskins said his favorite food is anything his mom cooks, and said since being away from home, he falls in love with any food his mom brings him to eat when she comes to visit.
Hoskins said in his time here, the most valuable thing he’s learned is how to become a better man after college. He also has some advice for incoming freshmen and transfer students.
“Make friends,” he said. “If you know people on campus, it’ll be easier for you to make the transition.”