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AUBURN, Alabama -- Building relationships has been the key to the recruiting process for five-star Auburn High linebacker Reuben Foster. Fresh off of an MVP performance in the Under Armour All-America Game last week, Foster took an unofficial visit to Auburn on Sunday to start building relationships with Gus Malzahn's new staff after de-committing in December following the release of Chizik's staff.
Foster, for the most part, played his cards close to the vest on where he's leaning in the recruiting process, but Auburn's new coaching staff impressed the highly-coveted linebacker, the state's highest-rated prospect. "It was just good getting to know them, being with all the coaches, all the staff, just getting to know the other people who are coming here," Foster said. "It gave me some time just to sit down and just think, you know, get to know them better, and start building that family relationship with them."
Foster, a 6-foot-2, 228-pounder who is widely rated as the nation's best linebacker prospect and turned in six tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss at the Under Armour All-America Game, de-committed after former wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor was released, citing his relationship with the assistant. But he liked new Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, who reminds the linebacker of his granddad and would also be his position coach with the Tigers.
"I think a whole lot of him, highly of him," Foster said. "He's old, and you know, he's kind of funny and sweet, but I think he's very cool. Out of the whole group, that's my guy." Foster said Johnson reminded him of his granddad, then said he was impressed by the veteran coach's experience before saying that he planned to go home and start making decisions on where he will take his official visits
Foster can take five official visits before national signing day on Feb. 6, the day he tentatively plans to announce his decision from among a group of schools that includes Auburn, Alabama and Georgia.
“I’m not going to take all five of them so I’m getting ready to call coaches,†Foster said. “I don’t know which ones, I just know there are going to be about two upset. I’ll take about three." After living right down the road and playing at Auburn High, where Foster made 80 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and two sacks, Foster isn't sure if one of those official visits will be to Auburn.
He's already familiar with Auburn's campus, although he said he's still considering an official visit to the Tigers. And after building a relationship with Johnson, Foster says Auburn could factor into his final decision.
“He’s got a lot of experience,†Foster said. “They’ve got a lot going on from what I see and hear. They should be good in the future. Do I want to be a part of it? Maybe, but I’m still thinking.â€
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