Foster preparing for Tech

Texas Tech signee Sadale Foster, a junior college transfer from Riverside (Calif.) Community College, will settle in Lubbock this Monday for classes and spring football along with his Riverside teammates in linebacker Will Smith and defensive end Lee Adams.

The trio couldn't be more excited to pack their bags and head to the South Plains.

"I'm real excited to move up to Tech," Foster said. "It's always been a dream of mine to play Division I football. We're all going to share an apartment that's right close to the school. We're real tight and we're all excited to be Red Raiders."

Smith and Adams will add valuable depth to two position groups that desperately need it, but Foster is the real wild card.

Foster was recruited as an athlete and is highly regarded for his kick return abilities. But that's not all he can offer.

Additionally, Foster, a 5-foot-8, 180-pounder, can serve as a running back in the absence of Eric Stephens and DeAndre Washington to take some of the load off of Kenny Williams who will be the Red Raiders' only back with much game experience.

"We've talked about me playing running back," Foster said. "They've talked to me about playing several positions. We've talked about me working out at the running back position as well as other positions. I'm happy to help there if I can."

Foster said he also can play receiver.

The Riverside trio won't be able to bring much at all with them. Each is planning on flying to Lubbock rather than taking long drives from the West Coast.

"Hopefully we can bring some good weather with us," Forster said, laughing.

Foster said not only is he excited to play Division I football, but also to live a Division I lifestyle like the standard student. He wants to be a part of the campus community and thrive academically.

Something that gets overlooked when junior college players make the jump to Division I is how much better academic support is at a school like Tech, which has the Marsha Sharp Center where students tutor student-athletes, compared to a community college that just doesn't have the resources.

That's important to Foster who will be working toward an exercise sports science degree while putting in the time to play collegiate football.

"I'm really excited to start the academic thing," Foster said. "A big thing that sold me on Tech was the academics and we didn't get that kind of support at my school. Yeah, I'm excited to start the academic part of it. I love football, but I'm here to be a student as much as an athlete. Really excited about classes."