Reuben Foster

High school career

A native of Alabama, Foster moved across the border to LaGrange, Georgia, after sixth grade. He attended Troup County High School, where he played high school football and was teammates with Quan Bray and J. C. Copeland. During his freshman year in a game against Columbus (GA) Carver, Foster had a heralded performance against blue chip running back Isaiah Crowell. "That was my coming out party. That's when they started calling me 'freakish freshman'", said Foster. He completed his freshman season with 110 tackles, and added 112 as a sophomore.

Foster finished his junior season at Troup County High School with 185 tackles, including 34 tackles for loss and 18 sacks. In February 2012, Troup County headcoach Charles Flowers was dismissed, allegedly due to a rumor that he paid a football player to move from Lanett, Alabama, to West Point, Georgia, in order to play for Troup. Immediately afterwards, Foster announced his intention to transfer to another high school for his senior season.

He eventually moved back to Alabama and enrolled at Auburn High School in April 2012, where he became teammates with Rashaan Evans. Along with the transfer came a switch in commitment from Alabama to Auburn, which triggered an NCAA investigation.

In his senior year at Auburn High, Foster recorded 80 tackles (70 solo) and two sacks, helping the Tigers advance to the quarterfinals of the Class 6A playoffs. Auburn High School lost 7–8 in a grueling, defensive battle to rival Opelika at Duck Samford Stadium. Foster participated in the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game, finishing with six tackles and 2.5 for loss, earning Defensive MVP honors.

Recruiting

Regarded as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Foster is listed as the No. 1 inside linebacker of his class. Chris Yeager, who coached the Alabama All-Stars in the 2012 Alabama-Mississippi Classic, compared Foster to Cornelius Bennett.

Since his sophomore year, Foster was recruited by a number of SEC schools. In July 2011, Foster verbally committed to Alabama, citing the NFL pedigree of headcoach Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart as the decisive factor. However, Foster was not firm on his commitment, so other schools continued to recruit him. After transferring to Auburn High School prior to his senior year, Foster decided to de-commit from Alabama, and switched to Auburn University. "At the end of the day, I feel like Auburn University is the place for me and my family. I am 100 percent confident with my final decision", said Foster. He went so far to have the Auburn University emblem tattooed on his right arm.

Foster's commitment to the Tigers, however, only lasted until December 2012, when Auburn dismissed head coach Gene Chizik, and assistant coach Trooper Taylor, to whom Foster had developed a personal relationship. Foster went through January looking at different schools, including Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, Georgia, Washington, Miami (FL), and LSU, with Georgia believed to be the favorite. On National Signing Day, however, Foster re-committed to Alabama.

College career

Foster debuted as a true freshman for Alabama in the season-opener against Virginia Tech, registering one assisted tackle. He appeared in a total of nine games over the season, registering 12 tackles (4 solo), including one tackle for a loss of yardage. Competing to fill the vacancy at inside linebacker left by Butkus Award winner C. J. Mosley, Foster was injured during spring practice on April 5, 2014.

The starting job eventually went to Reggie Ragland, but Foster still played in 11 games and had the third-most special teams tackles on the team with eight. He made his first career start at the middle linebacker position against West Virginia, compiling seven total tackles with two solo stops and a tackle for loss (−2 yards). Foster finished his sophomore season with 22 tackles including 11 solo stops, two tackles for loss (−5 yards) and one sack (−3 yards, against Texas A&M).

In his junior year, Foster took over as starting inside linebacker from Trey DePriest, and finished second on the team with 73 total tackles, eight for a loss (−24 yards), on the season. He also registered two sacks (−7 yards), three quarterback hurries and nine pass breakups. Returning for his senior season, he was widely regarded as one of the best linebackers in college football. Sports Illustrated, USA Today, The Sporting News, and numerous other outlets named him a midseason All-American. After the season, he was awarded the Butkus Award, given to the nation's best linebacker. As a senior in 2016, Foster finished with 115 tackles, 13 for losses, and five sacks.

Professional career

On February 13, 2017, it was revealed the Foster underwent right shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. As a result, he could not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine drills and on-field activities.

At the combine, Foster was sent home after getting into a "heated argument" with a hospital worker. During the combine, it was announced that Foster had failed a drug test. On April 20, 2017, it was revealed that Foster's urine sample was reported as dilute, which is treated like a positive test.

Foster was projected to be a top-ten pick, but because of his positive test and shoulder injury concerns, his draft stock plummeted, and he ended up being selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round with the 31st overall pick.

Personal life

Foster was born to Inita Berry Paige and Danny Foster. His father allegedly shot his estranged wife in November 1995, while she was holding 18-month-old Reuben Foster, who was wounded in the back.

Danny Foster was indicted by a grand jury in 1996 but fled the state before being arrested in California. He was extradited to Randolph County but escaped from jail in December 1996. He took on a new identity in Miami, Florida, but was arrested after spending 16 years on the run and will again be extradited to Randolph County, Alabama.

Foster has a daughter.

In April 2016, Foster was present (although not involved) during a shooting that left three dead outside a nightclub in Auburn, Alabama.