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University of Minnesota Athletics
Football Player Profiles: Wide Receiver Aaron Hosack
9/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
For most newcomers to Minnesota, the biggest adjustment to the state is the weather. While Hosack is still getting used to the chilly winters and humid summers, the major change was on the football field. "It was really different," Hosack said. "Probably the level was the biggest change of all: the intensity, the players. Coming from a junior college to a Division I college was very different."
Hosack transferred from Mount San Antonio Junior College in Walnut, Calif., to Minnesota in 2002 with people looking for him to fill the void left with the departure of All-Big Ten wide receiver Ron Johnson. With his good hands and speed, Hosack felt he had to make am immediate impact. "I felt a lot of pressure, especially coming from a junior college," he said. "It's nothing compared to the Big Ten, especially in the types of players you get. You get good players, but it's just a different level of play. It was a big change."
"I definitely felt like I had to adjust because the intensity was different and the speed was different," Hosack added. "The level of play was just unreal, especially compared to what I was playing in junior college. Then I was just not challenged enough. But then I got up here and everybody is better than you, if not the same level. It just makes you work a lot harder and challenges your work ethic. You make sure you do the best you can all the time."
Hosack responded well to the challenge of playing in the Big Ten. He started in 11 games in 2002, with a catch in all 13. He led the Gophers with 649 receiving yards, with an average of 22.4 yards per catch, which was the highest average among Big Ten players with at least 25 receptions. His highlights for the 2002 season include a 45-yard touchdown reception at Michigan State that opened Minnesota's scoring in the victory, and capping off the regular season with a four reception, 90-yard performance at Wisconsin.
Hosack's potential as a deep threat is perhaps the biggest piece he has added to the Gophers' offensive arsenal. In 2002, he had nine games with at least one catch of 35 yards or more. Wide receivers coach Richard Wilson credited Hosack for adding the Minnesota's offensive arsenal. "One of the biggest things he brings to the team is he's one of the wide receivers we have that has been in the end zone before. He brings a lot of maturity to our group."
For the 2003 season, there was an additional change for Hosack. Another junior college wide receiver, Paris Hamilton, transferred to Minnesota. Now there are multiple speedy receivers with good hands, giving the Gophers a dangerous threat in the end zone. All the excitement about the addition of Hamilton to Hosack falls on deaf ears for the two receivers. While there may also be the change of having his game under a Division I microscope, it is a change Hosack gives little attention to. "I don't really think we pay attention to any hype," Hosack said. "It would be stupid to pay attention to it because then you start to think prematurely that you're better than something. I don't really listen to it."
Not that Hosack isn't looking for a stellar senior season. His outlook for the wide receivers in 2003 is, "We're going to be phenomenal. Devastating."
What about the hype?
Hosack laughed, "That's just my own hype, my own prediction. Because I've got kind of a biased opinion towards us." But even Coach Wilson admitted, "I'll be honest with you, I'm looking forward to him having a great senior season."
Even if some of the predictions for Hosack in 2003 become reality, he can look forward to another change in his life: the recognition of being one of the top receivers in the Big Ten.
This article was written by Media Relations student assistant Courtney Walerius. She welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu. Aaron Hosack has made a couple of changes over the last year. He moved from California to Minnesota. He upped his game from junior college to the Big Ten. He adjusted his play from "going through the motions" to working hard during every play. And he has done so rather smoothly, dealing with the challenges while taking everything in stride.
For most newcomers to Minnesota, the biggest adjustment to the state is the weather. While Hosack is still getting used to the chilly winters and humid summers, the major change was on the football field. "It was really different," Hosack said. "Probably the level was the biggest change of all: the intensity, the players. Coming from a junior college to a Division I college was very different."
Hosack transferred from Mount San Antonio Junior College in Walnut, Calif., to Minnesota in 2002 with people looking for him to fill the void left with the departure of All-Big Ten wide receiver Ron Johnson. With his good hands and speed, Hosack felt he had to make am immediate impact. "I felt a lot of pressure, especially coming from a junior college," he said. "It's nothing compared to the Big Ten, especially in the types of players you get. You get good players, but it's just a different level of play. It was a big change."
"I definitely felt like I had to adjust because the intensity was different and the speed was different," Hosack added. "The level of play was just unreal, especially compared to what I was playing in junior college. Then I was just not challenged enough. But then I got up here and everybody is better than you, if not the same level. It just makes you work a lot harder and challenges your work ethic. You make sure you do the best you can all the time."
Hosack responded well to the challenge of playing in the Big Ten. He started in 11 games in 2002, with a catch in all 13. He led the Gophers with 649 receiving yards, with an average of 22.4 yards per catch, which was the highest average among Big Ten players with at least 25 receptions. His highlights for the 2002 season include a 45-yard touchdown reception at Michigan State that opened Minnesota's scoring in the victory, and capping off the regular season with a four reception, 90-yard performance at Wisconsin.
Hosack's potential as a deep threat is perhaps the biggest piece he has added to the Gophers' offensive arsenal. In 2002, he had nine games with at least one catch of 35 yards or more. Wide receivers coach Richard Wilson credited Hosack for adding the Minnesota's offensive arsenal. "One of the biggest things he brings to the team is he's one of the wide receivers we have that has been in the end zone before. He brings a lot of maturity to our group."
For the 2003 season, there was an additional change for Hosack. Another junior college wide receiver, Paris Hamilton, transferred to Minnesota. Now there are multiple speedy receivers with good hands, giving the Gophers a dangerous threat in the end zone. All the excitement about the addition of Hamilton to Hosack falls on deaf ears for the two receivers. While there may also be the change of having his game under a Division I microscope, it is a change Hosack gives little attention to. "I don't really think we pay attention to any hype," Hosack said. "It would be stupid to pay attention to it because then you start to think prematurely that you're better than something. I don't really listen to it."
Not that Hosack isn't looking for a stellar senior season. His outlook for the wide receivers in 2003 is, "We're going to be phenomenal. Devastating."
What about the hype?
Hosack laughed, "That's just my own hype, my own prediction. Because I've got kind of a biased opinion towards us." But even Coach Wilson admitted, "I'll be honest with you, I'm looking forward to him having a great senior season."
Even if some of the predictions for Hosack in 2003 become reality, he can look forward to another change in his life: the recognition of being one of the top receivers in the Big Ten.
This article was written by Media Relations student assistant Courtney Walerius. She welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu.
