AHSAA Opens Investigation On Reuben Foster
Update:
Earlier reports by the Atlanta Journal-Constitutional about Reuben Foster being investigated by the NCAA were incorrect. At 5:45 p.m., Jason Caldwell of Inside the Auburn Tigers reported it was the Alabama High School Athletics Association on the Auburn High campus today conducting interviews with Foster and his mother. According to Caldwell, it is a standard procedure done for all transfers.
*****
The NCAA is at it again. After Auburn football running back Jovon Robinson was claimed to have received a falsified transcript, according to the The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, on August 10, it appears the NCAA wants to continue checking on the Tigers, more so recruit Reuben Foster.
Foster is making headlines once again after the NCAA announced Monday it will meet with the No. 1 middle linebacker in the country, according to Scout.com, and his mom after he and his family moved to Auburn this summer.
“They [the NCAA] are talking with Reuben and me,” Anita Paige said. “They want to make sure there was nothing illegal done to get us down here, or anything like that. They want to make sure there wasn’t a college booster involved.
“No, there was not a booster involved or anybody from the college involved. There was nothing illegal.”
Foster raised eyebrows on July 12 when the soon-to-be high school senior de-committed from the Alabama Crimson Tide and verbally committed to Auburn. The news, which did not surprise some, came with a right hook to the jaw toward the Tide and its fans, as well. Foster’s speech consisted of the exact same words as Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon last year when he de-committed from the Tigers and committed to Nick Saban.
The No. 2 overall prospect in the nation sealed his commitment with an Auburn logo tattoo on his forearm. His mother added the whole family plans to get Auburn tattoos, as well.
The switched commitment came shortly after Foster transferred from Troup County High in Lagrange, Georgia to Auburn High. Initially wanting to move to either Oxford or Auburn, Foster said his motivation was because his head coach was fired.
The Tigers’ provided two factors that Oxford was not able to compete with, as well. First, Foster’s mother will not have to travel far for games. Also, according to Foster, when his cousin former Tigers fullback Ladarious Phillips was killed in Auburn shooting that occurred over the summer, he wanted to carry out Phillips’ legacy on the Plains.
With the NCAA’s decision coming out of out of left field and three days after Robinson’s stories broke, Paige added Alabama fans have been extraordinarily mean to the family since the switch.
“Yes, the Alabama people have said all kinds of awful things, saying he is a traitor, and that ‘You can go play with the pigs if you want.’ They told him you won’t be playing for any championships at Auburn the next four years … just a lot of mean stuff.”
