NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt football will open the 2024 season Saturday morning hosting Virginia Tech. This season is full of firsts for the program, including a new strength staff, a new offensive coordinator, a new stadium, and head coach Clark Lea taking over the defense. For senior receiver Richie Hoskins, add captain to the list of new roles.
“It was a dream, always,” Hoskins said. “I knew coming here would be a battle in the first place. I knew it was going to have to be a step-by-step thing. I missed the entire first fall camp my first season here, and when I came back, I knew that my mentality was going to be, ‘No one knows who you are right now; you haven’t played a single snap of football at Vanderbilt yet, so all you can do is make plays.’ As soon as that started happening, I felt like I could start gaining respect around the team and knew I could be a leader on and off the field. I knew that it would take time, and I would have to go step-by-step to reach that dream of being a big contributor and a leader. I had to have microscopic vision because I knew it would come if I took things step-by-step and did the next thing right.”
The Lake Forest, Illinois, native came to Vanderbilt following his freshman season at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he was a multi-sport athlete in lacrosse and football. After his freshman season, Hoskins decided to focus on just football and find a new challenge.
“I decided I wanted to move to a higher level of football,” Hoskins recalled. “I felt like there was something more for me football-wise. Initially, I reached out to Vanderbilt and told them I wanted to walk-on. I went through the process and couldn’t turn this opportunity down. I knew I would be playing against the best every week not just on Saturdays but through the weekdays, fall camp and the summer. That’s what drew me here. I knew it would be a challenge academically and athletically, pushing me further to the next level of my life.”
Ahead of the season opener, Hoskins was voted one of the five captains for the 2024 season.
“It was funny, my parents found out before I did,” Hoskins chuckled. “My brother and sister didn’t know. There was a lot of cussing, a lot of love and very emotional for a lot of people. Even for myself, I felt it because I know where I come from and where I started, how much I went through to get here and this was one of those moments where I was seeing the results of everything I put in to form into action. As I was telling my family, they felt the same way, and that’s why it had such an impact on them.”
All the feels 🫶 pic.twitter.com/DRzBZvBh89
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) August 26, 2024
“The guys in the room respect him on all levels on and off the field,” said wide receivers coach Alex Bailey. “His work ethic, the way he prepares and his mindset. He really inspires a lot of those guys to play. You feel his impact in the room, on the field and it’s been a pleasure to have him in our room.”
During his sophomore season, Hoskins debuted on special teams against Alabama. Come the 2023 season, the receiver appeared in all 12 games (two starts) and made six catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns.
👀 Hoskins for SIX! pic.twitter.com/TVyEGaEZrq
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) October 14, 2023
When asked about Hoskins’ jump from sophomore to junior season, Bailey said, “It’s a testament to the work he puts in. He is a guy who will work to get better every day, he’s ultra-competitive. He loves football, his teammates and he will do anything he can to get on the field. For him, it was all about creating a role. He makes us better, so seeing him from where he was to where he is now is awesome. He has that same mentality that he is a walk-on and he needs to earn it every day, and he does.”
With all the new developments across the football program this season, from the new strength staff, a new offensive approach, a new stadium, and head coach Clark Lea taking over the defense, Hoskins has one goal this season: to win.
“I’m so excited to see the results of what we have done in the weight room with Coach (Robert) Stiner and his staff. We have been putting it all out on the line every day throughout the winter, spring and summer and even through fall camp. Now we are going to see the results of a different program finally, it’s going to be amazing,” Hoskins smiled.
