If you ask Alabama head coach Nick Saban, any NFL team hesitant to draft linebacker Reuben Foster shouldn’t overthink the easy decision.

Coming off the best season of his four-year Alabama career, Foster was being hailed by many as the top linebacker prospect in the 2017 NFL Draft and potentially as a Top 5 overall selection. Of course, that was before he was asked to leave the NFL Combine for getting into a ‘heated exchange’ with a medical assistant.

During Alabama’s on-campus Pro Day event held Wednesday, Saban issued his support for his star linebacker, speaking mostly of his team-first attitude and leadership qualities on and off the field.

“I think anyone that thinks what happened in Indy should affect this guy’s future in the draft is being very short-sighted,” Saban said during Alabama’s Pro Day. “He’s played here for four years, we’ve never had an issue with him. He’s always been a great leader, he’s a signal caller on defense, he’s bright. He’s always been a great team guy and really well liked by his teammates.

“If you’re looking for a good teammate for your team, Reuben’s going to be very, very good. If you’re looking for somebody to be a candy striper and be nice to everyone at the hospital, maybe not.”

Should nothing else happen to negatively affect Foster’s status between now and the upcoming draft, expect this minor incident to be long forgotten by NFL evaluators. After studying his tape, it will be hard for any NFL team looking to improve its defense to pass on such a talented linebacker prospect.

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