Eric Foster (American football)

Last updated

Eric Foster
Eric Foster at Lincoln Financial Field (5164991930) (cropped).jpg
Foster with the Indianapolis Colts in 2010
No. 68
Position: Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1985-04-05) April 5, 1985 (age 39)
Homestead, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school: Homestead (Florida)
College: Rutgers
Undrafted: 2008
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:117
Sacks:6.0
Forced fumbles:1
Pass deflections:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Eric Jerome Foster (born March 5, 1985) is an American former professional football defensive tackle. He went undrafted in the 2008 NFL draft. Foster signed a contract with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. He played college football for Rutgers University.

Contents

Early life

Foster was named All-Dade at linebacker by The Miami Herald following his senior year at Homestead High School where he led the team to 9-4 season and regional final in state playoffs.[ citation needed ]

College career

After redshirting in 2003, Foster made an immediate impact in 2004 as a backup defensive end, playing in all 11 games. Foster was injured during the second game of the 2005 season, only to return in 2006 as the team's starting defensive tackle, lining up to Ramel Meekins. Despite the unit's lack of size, Foster's six sacks helped Rutgers register forty-one sacks total in 2006, good for fifth in all of Division I-A, [1] as well as fourth in total defense. [2]

Foster gained national notoriety in 2006 for his stellar play, as well as for a popular clip aired by ESPN of a locker room speech. Snippets of the video were played at later home games. In addition, he makes a chopping motion with his arms and hands as a reference to his coach, Greg Schiano's motto, "Keep Choppin'."

For his efforts, Foster was named first-team all-Big East Conference. The Football Writers Association of America named him as a first-team All-American at defensive tackle, [3] as well as making Honorable Mention on the AP's team. [4] In 2007, he was named a preseason All-American by Sports Illustrated .

Foster was named to several pre-season All-America teams for 2007 at DT. He was named to the preseason watch list for the Lott Trophy, annually awarded to the best defensive player in the nation.

Professional career

Indianapolis Colts

After going undrafted, Foster was signed as a free agent for the Indianapolis Colts on May 2, 2008. Foster played in 13 games during his first season starting 11 of them.

During the Colts Monday Night Football game against the Buccaneers on October 3, 2011, Foster suffered a gruesome leg injury. During the final minutes of the first half, teammate Tyler Brayton rolled on Foster's ankle, causing his foot to turn painfully the wrong direction. His ankle was dislocated in the process. He was brought to Tampa General Hospital, where he underwent surgery the following day to repair the bone. Foster missed the rest of the 2011-12 season. [5] The incident was compared to Joe Theismann's career-ending injury. [6]

Toronto Argonauts

On June 7, 2013, after sitting out the 2012 season, Foster was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

Chicago Bears

On August 17, 2013, Foster was signed by the Chicago Bears. [7] He was released on August 25. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Brackett</span> American football player (born 1980)

Gary Lawrence Brackett is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rutgers, and signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2003. Brackett played for the Colts for his entire 9-year career, and won Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears.

DeDe Dorsey is a former American football running back. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Lindenwood.

Daniel Hubert Federkeil is a former professional Canadian football player, having played offensive tackle for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played CIS football with the Calgary Dinos, and was drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2006 CFL Draft, but signed with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League shortly thereafter. He would later assist the Colts in winning Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears.

Justin C. Hickman is an American professional football scout and former player who is an analyst and scouting manager for the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL. He played as a defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Pellington</span> American football player (1927–1994)

William A. Pellington was an American football linebacker who played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts. Known for his aggressive style and so-called neck-tie tackles, Pellington was a mainstay with the Colts teams that captured league championships in the 1958 and 1959 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Muir</span> American football player (born 1983)

Daniel Travanti Muir is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Kent State. Muir was also a member of the Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerrell Freeman</span> American gridiron football player (born 1986)

Jerrell Alexander Freeman is an American former professional football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tennessee Titans of the NFL in 2008. He then played three seasons in the CFL for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, where he led the league in tackles in 2011. In 2012, he signed with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, and also later played for the Chicago Bears.

Justin O'Mara Brown is a former professional American, Canadian football and arena football defensive end. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2005. He played college football for the East Central Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaal Westerman</span> American football player (born 1985)

Jamaal Akeem Westerman is an American former professional football player who was a defensive lineman who is currently a college football coach for Rutgers. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was named to the Second–team All–Big East team two times. Westerman played high school football in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at St. Thomas Aquinas High School before moving to Brampton, Ontario and attending Notre Dame Secondary School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Jones (American football)</span> American football player (born 1986)

Arthur Willis Jones III is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Syracuse Orange. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft and won Super Bowl XLVII with them. Jones has also played for the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins. He is also the older brother of UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, and Super Bowl winner, former defensive end Chandler Jones.

Nicolas Jean-Baptiste is a former American football nose tackle. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He played college football at Baylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Bostic</span> American football player (born 1991)

Jonathan Earl Bostic II is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football at Florida and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. Bostic has also been a member of the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders, and New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Moore II</span> American football player (born 1995)

Kenneth Moore II is an American professional football cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Valdosta State, and signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

Eric André Wilson is an American professional football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northwestern and Cincinnati, and signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, and New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Odum</span> American football player (born 1993)

George Odum is an American professional football safety and special teamer for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Central Arkansas before signing with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Odum was named to the 2020 and 2022 All-Pro Team for his special team play.

Chris Williams is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wagner and was signed by the Indianapolis Colts in 2020 as an undrafted free agent.

Eric Morris Johnson II is an American professional football defensive tackle for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Missouri State, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sterling Weatherford</span> American football player (born 1999)

Sterling Weatherford is an American professional football linebacker. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2022 after playing college football at Miami (OH).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wesley French</span> American football player (born 1996)

Wesley M. French is an American professional football center for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He spent seven years playing college football at Western Michigan seeing game action during five of those seasons both as a defensive tackle and offensive lineman.

Forrest Rhyne is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football at Villanova.

References

  1. ↑ http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2006&div=4&rpt=IA_teamsacks&site=org [ bare URL ]
  2. ↑ http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2006&div=4&rpt=IA_teamtotdef&site=org [ bare URL ]
  3. ↑ "Eric Foster Named First Team All-America:Junior named to the Football Writers Association of America All-America Team". scarletknights.com. December 9, 2006. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Ray Rice, Eric Foster Collect AP All-America Honors:Rice Named to Second Team, Foster Garners Third Team Accolades". scarletknights.com. December 12, 2006. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Yahoo Sports NFL".
  6. ↑ "Colts' Foster to Have Surgery | Pro Player Insiders". Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  7. ↑ Biggs, Brad (August 17, 2013). "Bears sign DT Foster, QB Palmer; waive LB Starks". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 17, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  8. ↑ Mayer, Larry (August 25, 2013). "Bears waive 14 players; roster now stands at 76". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on August 28, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.