Cardinal Mooney DB Teddy Foster picks University of Florida over Miami and North Carolina
SARASOTA - Teddy Foster gave himself a Friday birthday gift of a college commitment.
And, in the process, the Florida Gators got a present as well.
Spurning offers from the University of Miami and University of North Carolina, the Cardinal Mooney rising senior defensive back announced on Friday at a local restaurant via Instagram Live his decision to play for the Gators.
When the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Foster, a three-star talent, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings, told the crowd of his decision, everyone cheered, the loudest eruptions coming from those wearing Gator blue and orange.
Foster becomes the first cornerback pledge of the Gators’ 2024 commitment class. Of Foster’s 28 offers, Florida’s was among the last to arrive, but his length and athleticism impressed Florida secondary coach Corey Raymond. And after Foster shined in a private May workout led by the team’s staff, Florida extended its offer.
“It was a lot of things,” Foster said as to why he picked the Gators. “Can’t say it was just the position coach, but Corey Raymond is a great dude, one of the best in the country. It’s hard to get better development than that.
“(Florida) did jump, they made a big jump. I went on an OV (official visit) in June, and they offered me everything I was going to get. Constant contact with (defensive coordinator) coach (Austin) Armstrong, (head) coach (Billy) Napier, coach Raymond. It was amazing.”
After making last season football his primary focus over basketball - though he did average four points and four rebounds a game for the 17-10 Cougar boys team - Foster submitted a breakout junior campaign, recording 38 tackles for Mooney, nine passes defensed, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery in 11 games. He also caught 17 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns.
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Foster’s improvement coincided with cousin and former NFL cornerback Michael Hawthorne taking an active interest in his development. He knew his younger cousin had little experience playing the cornerback position.
“You don’t know what you don’t know,” said the 46-year-old Hawthorne, who attended Booker High and Purdue University before a six-year career with the Saints, Packers, and Rams. “That’s what I like telling people all the time. But there’s no way to change (Foster’s) size. There’s no way to change his height.”
Hawthorne said Foster’s biggest improvement came in his knowledge of the game. “A huge jump. You feel comfortable when you have that knowledge base. We started breaking down film, and I would give him the teaching/coaching points. That’s what I know. I have a doctorate degree in that. Because once you open up (in the head), the body follows.”
Said Foster, “Since he’s been here, it’s been non-stop work. He’s coming to the (Cougar) games from a high-detail place. Details, film, the smallest-smallest stuff you think of, he’s on it with me. Just since the spring, he’s made a crazy impact, and you can tell that by my film.
“I stopped basketball and just gave (football) my all. I didn’t know how much it was going to take. I push myself as hard as I can. I feel like my best is yet to come. I’m still raw. It’s just the beginning right now. Just the early stage of my development.
“Next (season), there’s going to be a huge, huge difference, and we’re going to have some fun.”
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Cardinal Mooney DB Foster verbally commits to University of Florida
