Inside UFC heavyweight star Josh Hokit's time as a college football walk-on
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- Josh Hokit began as a walk‑on linebacker at Clovis High School, where a coach warned him to tone down his tackling, and later earned a scholarship at Fresno State after a senior season featuring a “Truck Stick” highlight reel of hard hits.
- Fresno State gave Hokit a scholarship by the end of the spring following his senior year, and he contributed as a running back, tight end, slot receiver, and special‑team player, tallying 1,260 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in his college career.
- Drexel signed Hokit to a wrestling scholarship, which delayed his football recruiting and left him with only walk‑on opportunities before he finally joined Fresno State’s football program.
- San Francisco 49ers signed Hokit as an NFL free agent in 2020, placing him on the practice squad as a fullback before he was released by the Arizona Cardinals in August 2022.
- UFC featured Hokit’s 9‑0 heavyweight record in a fight against Curtis Blaydes at UFC Freedom 250 in April, which the UFC YouTube channel called “the greatest heavyweight fight ever.”
- President Donald Trump attended the Freedom 250 bout, declared Hokit his new favorite fighter, and reportedly helped secure Hokit’s spot on the White House‑hosted fight card.
Why it matters: Hokit’s ascent to a 9‑0 UFC heavyweight record is amplified by President Donald Trump’s ringside endorsement and assistance in securing a spot on the Freedom 250 card, giving the fighter a national spotlight and giving the UFC a politically high‑profile marquee bout.
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