San Francisco takes Alabama LB Reuben Foster at No. 31 overall in NFL Draft
By Chris Wright
Published:
It took longer than expected, but Reuben Foster’s bumpy draft preparation ended on a positive note Thursday night when the San Francisco 49ers selected the Alabama linebacker with the No. 31 overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Foster was the 12th SEC player taken in the first round, matching a draft record by one conference.
Foster had top-10 skills — some analysts said he was the most talented linebacker available — but wasn’t invited to Philadelphia after his much publicized issues at the NFL Combine.
There was some speculation that Foster’s issues and reported medical concerns would cause him to fall out of the first round. One unnamed team with a top 15 pick reportedly removed his name from consideration.
Ultimately, he became fourth Alabama linebacker under Nick Saban to be picked in the first round.
At 6-0, 229 pounds, Foster has the ideal combination of size and sideline-to-sideline speed NFL teams covet as they contend with spread offenses built on quick reads and identifying pre-snap mismatches.
And once he gets there, he doesn’t miss. Foster led Alabama with 115 tackles, second in the SEC behind Zach Cunningham.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
