Auburn Recruiting: Biggest Signing Day Surprises
Oct 18, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffen talks with Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reuben Foster (10) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Reuben Foster, 2013
Before Rashaan Evans there was Reuben Foster.
Foster initially committed to Alabama, but changed his commitment to Auburn in July 2012 and felt confident enough in his decision to get an AU tattoo. However, following a very disappointing 3-9 season and the firing of head coach Gene Chizik, Foster re-opened his commitment.
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The Tigers still had a great shot to land Evans, who was considered by some recruiting analysts to be the top inside linebacker prospect in the nation, but he left an official visit on the weekend before signing day and travelled to Tuscaloosa.
A few days later on National Signing Day, Foster announced his intentions to play for the Crimson Tide.
The whole episode shined a light on college football recruiting for a national audience, which Alabama head coach Nick Saban addressed afterwards.
“I would hate to think how I would have managed the attention that he got, and a lot of these young people get, when I was 17 or 18 years old,” Saban said. “I just don’t know if I would have been nearly mature enough to be able to manage it the way sometimes people expect it to be managed.”
Foster’s decision certainly didn’t please many Auburn football fans, especially with his earlier commitment and the tattoo and all… but his tale is a cautionary one.
Remember these five-star high school recruits are children in many cases, and very young adults at best. They don’t always make the best decisions, they don’t always know what they want, and if they are high-profile prospects there will be television cameras, reporters, internet buzz, social media and a wide range of other things following them day in and day out.
“I think that Reuben would like to please everyone,” Saban said. “And I think that he learned in this process that that’s very, very difficult – and probably impossible – to do and I think that’s probably what he feels bad about.”
Next: Updated National Signing Day Odds & Predictions
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