Central Valley’s Foster eyes NFL after Tide’s title runs
INDIANAPOLIS — Robert Foster was a five-star recruit coming out of Central Valley High School in Center Township, Beaver County, in 2013 — a 6-foot-2, 196-pound wide receiver who could run and catch.
He narrowed his final two college choices to hometown Pitt and national power Alabama before finally choosing the Crimson Tide, where he all but disappeared among the many talented players recruited by Nick Saban.
Foster caught only 35 passes for 379 yards in four seasons at Alabama, including just 14 for 174 yards in 2017 in the Tide’s march to another national title. But he said at the NFL Scouting Combine he does not regret his decision.
“I’m definitely happy with the way things worked out for me,” Foster said. “At the end of the day, coach [Nick] Saban never lied to me. He promised me I was going to get a degree. He promised me I would have a national championship, and I have a few. He promised me I would have a chance to play for a national championship, which he gave me.”
Foster was surprised he was invited to the combine because his production was so limited at Alabama. But he showed one of the reasons why when he ran a 4.41 40yard dash, the third-fastest time Saturday among receivers.
“Everything that happened to my career here, I enjoyed it and embraced it because it was all a blessing,” Foster said. “Now I get the benefit of doing something for my kids.”
Henderson loses time
Pitt receiver/kick returner Quadree Henderson thought he might run a sub4.4 in the 40 at the combine, especially after posting a 4.37 while training a week earlier.
But, at his size (5-8, 190), Henderson likely did not enhance his stock as a wide receiver when he ran an official 4.5 at the combine. He also had the sixth-worst post in the vertical jump (32.5 inches).
Henderson was hoping a good time could help convince NFL coaches and general managers he could play wide receiver in the league, despite his size.
“I just want to test well [Saturday], show these coaches and GMs that I can play receiver and catch and do everything and show my abilities so I can get drafted,” Henderson said.
Henderson, though, is viewed primarily as a special-teams player in the NFL after returning seven kicks for touchdown (four kickoffs, three punts) in three seasons at Pitt.
“Most teams see me as a specialist first and slowly graduate to receiver,” Henderson said. “Every team has talked to me about my special teams. Special teams is a game of yards in the NFL and every team needs a special-teams man who can flip the field.”
Name game
The best name at the combine also could become the most intriguing.
Hercules Mata’afa as an interior defensive lineman at Washington State, but he is not big enough (6-2, 254) to play along the line in the NFL. That likely would keep his draft position around the third and fourth round.
But Mata’afa is a tackle machine who led the Pac-12 Conference with 9.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for a loss in 2017, making him something of a steal at linebacker on the second or third day of the draft. He ran an official 4.76 at the combine — sixth fastest among defensive linemen — and did 26 reps in the 225-pound bench.
The Steelers did something similar several years ago, drafting Anthony Chickillo, who was a 295pound interior defensive lineman at Miami, and converted him to outside linebacker.
“I think I’m the most versatile pass-rusher in this draft,” said Mata’afa, who is Polynesian. “You can line me up anywhere and I can rush the passer. My get-off is the fastest in this draft, and I have a lot of upside to my ability. I think coaches take notice of that.”