Reuben Foster says this Birmingham native resembles him at ILB

Photo comes via Alabama athletics

The University of Alabama may be back to having feared inside linebackers again.

Reuben Foster, a Butkus Award winner and All-American at Alabama, is regarded as one of the most fearsome linebackers of all-time. 

Alabama legendary LB said this Tide linebacker ‘will be a problem’

The former five-star recruit and 2015 College Football Playoff National Champion returned to his Alma mater in the spring to share wisdom with defensive players. Foster puts his stamp of approval on this year’s inside linebacker room and explained why in Wednesday’s appearance on The Miller’s Edge with Christian Miller, a former Crimson Tide outside linebacker, via Tide 100.9 FM. Foster and Miller were teammates in 2015 and 2016. He likes Luke Metz, calling the second-year player ‘a problem’ for the coming fall. Foster thinks the Tide brought in a great transfer in Caleb Woodson, while seeing potential in Abduall Sanders and Duke Johnson II.

Alabama also carries a Birmingham (Ala.) native in the room that Foster believes resembles him.

QB Reese, a former three-star, is a product of Ramsay High School. The 6-foot, 229-pound redshirt sophomore played in 20 career games across two seasons. He totaled six tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery last year. Reese was not highly coveted on the recruiting trail, yet he has the mentality to make plays. He got in reps at ‘Sting’ linebacker during the spring, producing two good scrimmages and created some good moments in the A-Day game.

Foster sees Reese as a player who is about the action.

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“QB was a guy that I found a likening to,” Foster said. “I did not get a chance to talk with him too much, but I saw his grind. He is a wonderful guy, and he’s got that dog in him. He reminds me of myself, short, small, underrated because of his looks, but he is going to bring it. I really like that.”

Foster, who played at Alabama from 2013 to 2016, dominated at six feet and 228 pounds.

He and Reese are the same size, so it is going to be fun watching Reese this season.

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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.