Robert Foster was there when all the glitter and confetti dropped from the ceiling as Alabama beat Clemson to win the national championship last January. But it probably wasn’t as he had first imagined.
Foster, who enters the 2016 season as a redshirt junior, earned a starting spot on the Crimson Tide’d offense during fall practice last year. He tallied 10 catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns in three starts before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 3 against Ole Miss. And though he has a title ring in his back pocket, he does not lack motivation to return better than ever.
“It motivates to the highest right now,” Foster said during Alabama’s media day on Sunday, per the Dothan Eagle. “I just want to help my team. It ain’t about last year. I’m not focused on last year. I’m focused on this year. I’m going to help my team.”
As a former five-star prospect and the No. 2 overall wideout from the recruiting class of 2013, there’s no reason to believe Foster won’t jump back into the rotation and serve as one of the conference’s most productive pass-catchers alongside star sophomore Calvin Ridley.
His return to the field has been met with open arms, too.
“People forget as great as Calvin Ridley was last year, Calvin actually backed Robert last year until Robert got hurt,” offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said. “To see Robert really develop – I didn’t really see him his redshirt freshman year – to see him grow in the program as part of the process and end up starting last year and scoring a touchdown in the opener … I think he would have had a great season if he hadn’t gotten hurt.
“Very special skill set as far as speed and ability to get on top of the coverage downfield,” Kiffin said. “If he’s healthy I think he’ll really have another good one, too. He’ll play well and help the guys around him.”
Alabama opens with USC in Arlington, Tex. on Sept. 3.
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
