Clemson Football: Justin Foster ready to lead and play significant snaps
Clemson football defensive end Justin Foster played behind some talented athletes, but is now ready to lead and play significant snaps in 2019.
Justin Foster played the first two years of his Clemson football career behind some really talented defensive ends.
Foster learned from the likes of Austin Bryant and Clelin Ferrell, as well as Richard Yeargin and others, soaking in the experience, but now it’s his time to shine. He is challenging himself to get better and to emerge as a leader as the Tigers look to fill the voids left by Ferrell and Bryant off of last year’s National Championship team.
Right now, Foster is penciled in as the starter opposite-side of Xavier Thomas.
The Clemson football coaching staff has been impressed with the improvements that Foster has made over the past year, in particular, but still want to see more out of him as spring progresses and the Tigers head into summer workouts. Foster is battling with KJ Henry and Logan Rudolph, as well as Justin Mascoll for that starting position and for playing time.
In 2018, Foster was credited with 17 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery in 180 snaps.
He’ll be relied upon for much more than that in 2019.
Analysis:
I like Justin Foster as a guy that can potentially set a hard-edge and do a good job in helping with the overall power and explosiveness of the defensive line.
He is a great body to put at defensive end, even though he played linebacker in high school. There has definitely been an adjustment period for him over the last couple of seasons, but I think that pays off here in his junior campaign.
He hits the point of attack with power and is going to be a handful for opposing offenses in the run game. I’m interested to see how Foster performs in pass-rushing situations.
Next. Mid-Spring Practice Report 2019. dark
This season is his chance to put a stamp on the Clemson football program. If Foster can’t do it, the Tigers have plenty of talent to play, but the coaching staff definitely wants to see him excel and play at a high level in 2019.