Why?
Georgia linebacker Terrell Foster gets that a lot.
Although he was considered a bit undersized by most Division I standards, Foster was still good enough to receive offers from the likes of Maryland and Boston College while spending a year at IMG Academy.
But Foster had other ideas and when Georgia offered the chance to come to school as a preferred walk-on, he jumped at the chance.
Why? Foster’s answer is simple.
“It's Georgia, you know?” Foster said. “I came to Georgia to be a good player. That’s where I want to be. There's a standard right here, and if you play to that standard, you're going to feel great.”
Foster has every reason to be proud of the contributions he has made in the program over the past three years.
Even though he’s played in what’s traditionally been one of the deeper positions on Georgia’s team, Foster has been a constant. Not only did he travel to every game, but he played in all but two, seeing significant action on special teams.
“I can tell you that he works as hard as anybody on our team,” head coach Kirby Smart said. “Terrell Foster takes snaps, competes, leads, loves Georgia, and works his tail off. It's just incredible. I mean, Terrell is a kid that has earned NIL by the way he works.”
His ability as a leader does not go unnoticed, either.
Entering his fourth season, Foster is now the longest-tenured player in Georgia’s inside linebacker room.
For freshmen like Zayden Walker and Anthony Kruah, it’s an opportunity to learn from a veteran.
“(Walker) has been doing good, you know? He's a really athletic guy, so his growth will be crazy,” Foster said. “It’s the same with (Kruah). He's another athlete, and he’s here for a reason. He’s going to keep balling and keep doing his thing.”
Foster believes second-year linebackers Chris Cole and Justin Williams can be special, too.
“They’re still balling. They're doing their thing. They keep stepping up the game every day,” Foster said. “They're always locked in, always competing.”
But there are still lessons for the youngsters to learn.
“There's growing pains. There's growing pains for sure,” Foster said. “It's not easy to play linebacker in Georgia. There are obviously mistakes, but that's what we sit and watch film for. That's what we practice every day for.”
Smart said Georgia’s young linebackers would do well to keep their eyes on Foster.
“He is a warrior in terms of competitive toughness, special teams and makes plays,” Smart said of Foster last year. “That (linebackers) room has no shortage of talent. It may have a shortage of experience, but they rely on each other, and there are several good leaders in there.”
But leading isn’t what all Foster has on his mind.
The Kennesaw native is no different than any other player on Georgia’s roster. He wants a career in the NFL as much as anyone else.
“As long as it's an option, I'm going to keep working for it,” Foster said. “Right now, I'm probably the best player I can be. That's what I'm trying to grind.”
