One-handed walk-on makes debut for Florida Gators

By foxsports
Published

Florida freshman walk-on Zach Hodskins got the loudest ovation in Friday night's season-opening 68-45 victory over William & Mary. 

Hodskins, who was born without a left hand, came on with 2:06 left and missed his only shot in the closing seconds.

"It's surreal," said Hodskins, a 6-4 guard from Alpharetta, Georgia. "I've always dreamed of being here, and tonight I feel like I fulfilled that dream and now I'm just going to take that next step forward. It's kind of like the first time I did public speaking. I was a little bit nervous, but after I did it once, I was fine. I think I'm going to be fine if I get in another game."

Hodskins had his parents in attendance and the crowd and his teammates behind him.

“I love it. I mean as long as they treat me like a normal human being and a player and their friend, I’ll be just fine,” Hodskins told The Independent Florida Alligator.