7 Things to Know About Ronnie Hoggins
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, AUG. 20, 2018 –
Ronnie Hoggins is a name USF fans know well because of his playmaking ways the past three seasons in the Bulls' swarming secondary.
Learn more about Hoggins by checking out seven things to know about the senior who loves to tackle, lead Bulls and cook for them as well.
New Nickname
Heading into his senior year, Hoggins has been the vocal leader of the secondary at fall camp after starting 28 of 36 games the past three seasons.
When Hoggins speaks, younger players listen and they respond to him with his new, catchy title.
"Ronnie is kind of the grandfather back there. That's major, we refer to him as major," defensive backs coach
Blue Adams said. "Major is doing his thing."
Hoggins said he embraces his new nickname and growing leadership role heading into 2018.
"Being the voice of the secondary and on defense is something I take pride in," he said. "I like to tell guys what's coming and what to expect. I love when those guys make plays."
New Position, Same Toughness
Last season, current Arizona Cardinal
Deatrick Nichols made noise as a Bull, going from playing an outside corner spot to the nickel position.
Hoggins has moved into Nichols' USF nickel role and he's got the skills to get the job done inside. Playing much bigger than his size (5-8, 177), Hoggins uses a fearless mentality that's helped him rack up 132 tackles the past three seasons in addition to six interceptions and 23 pass breakups.
Hoggins said he developed his toughness as a kid while gearing up for seasons with older family members.
"I remember we would run into trees when we were little, just getting hyped for the first day of practice," Hoggins said. "It's just a tradition we did back at home because everybody back home is good."
A Love for Defense
Growing up in Coconut Creek, Fla., Hoggins had the speed to play offense but didn't want to stay on that side of the ball.
Sticking with his first football love – defense – proved to be prosperous as Hoggins was named Broward 8A-7A-6A Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after picking off 15 passes in 12 games at Monarch High School.
"I didn't really like it too much," said Hoggins of offense. "I kind of stuck to the defensive side of the ball. I made more plays there and just found my home."
At Monarch, Hoggins sharpened his skills in practice by covering teammate and standout receiver Calvin Ridley, who was drafted 26
th overall by Atlanta in 2018.
"It was a very high level," said Hoggins of his high school career. "We were in college before college. We learned time management and being accountable for everything you do."
Hoggins Comes From a Football Family
Growing up with three brothers and two sisters, Hoggins was a middle child who took after two football players in the family.
Hoggins' older brother, Darius, was a running back for University of Louisiana at Lafayette from 2014-17.
Hoggins' cousin, Chris Morley, played defensive back for the University of Memphis from 2013-16 and made 20 starts in 48 career games.
Credit Mom for Keeping Him in Football
When Hoggins was a kid, football was a thing he grew to love after having second thoughts about the sport.
"I remember my mother signed me up for football and said, 'You better play if I'm signing you up,'" Hoggins remembered. "After one practice, I wanted to quit. I was young, then I found my love for the game."
Hoggins said he'll never forget his mom Alison's tough love that helped keep him in the game. Hoggins still calls Alison his "backbone" and the two talk almost every day.
"She's a big part of what I do on and off the field," he said. "She's my everything."
Hoggins also credits his father, Ronnie Sr., for being another inspiring role model in his life.
Hoggins Pondering Post-Football Plans
Hoggins is currently majoring in communications at USF and he's using networking skills developed at the
Selmon Mentoring Institute to get connected with contacts for his possible future field – construction.
"I think I want to get into general contracting after football," he said. "I want to be on the business side of it. I want to be able to send out work and pay the people that do it."
Hoggins discovered an interest for construction growing up and helping out Ronnie Sr., who works in tiling and roofing.
Chef Hoggins
If Hoggins has his pick of eating at a restaurant or staying at home, you'll find USF's versatile defensive back making dishes in the kitchen, especially during his younger years.
"I go grocery shopping," he said. "I'd rather do that than eat out. I take out the meat in the morning to get it defrosted, then I'll cook it later."
Hoggins said "you can do anything with chicken," and another favorite dish he loves to make is fish and grits. Hoggins learned his kitchen skills from his parents and other Bulls are benefiting from it today.
"My roommates are
Khalid McGee and
Vincent Jackson," he said. "We cook every now and then, and everybody eats really, really good."
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF posted its second straight 10-win season in 2017 (10-2) by winning its second straight Birmingham Bowl with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech. USF is one of just 15 teams nationally to win 20-plus games in the last two seasons (21-4) and posted a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 13 in Week 8 of the 2017 season. The Bulls have won five of their last six bowl appearances and made nine (6-3) total bowl appearances in 21 seasons, including a current run of three straight bowls. USF won a program-record 11 games in 2016 (11-2) and has posted 14 winning seasons. The USF program, which first took the field in 1997, reached No. 2 in the rankings in 2007 and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and had 28 first-team all-conference selections.
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