STRENGTHS - Foster's quickness moving at the snap combined with good hand use helps him to play stronger than his measured weight. When he maintains leverage and uses hands well he can anchor versus one on one OL run blocks and consistently carries out his responsibility. On inside runs away he flashes ability to jolt OL blocker upright, gets inside blocker and has speed to chase down the play in pursuit. Despite lacking ideal bulk/weight, Foster flashes ability to split double team run block to make tackle behind the LOS. Highly competitive, he makes a number of tackles down/across field through sheer effort and determination. He plays bigger than his measured weight and can jolt and drive OL backwards when he bull rushes with leverage and aggressiveness. He is a smart and aware player who does a good job of getting his hands up into the passing lanes to tip/disrupt passes when he realizes he is not going to be able to get to QB in time to get sack.

WEAKNESSES - Foster is under-sized at 286 pounds and although he played strong at the POA at Illinois, it is a question if he can maintain that playing strength going against the bigger, stronger OL in the NFL. While he is quick and explosive, he is stiff and lacks good flexibility, which hinders his ability to consistently play with good leverage/base and when he can't he gets tied up too easily and is a non-factor too often. Other than a bull rush, Foster lacks variety as a pass rusher and will need to improve his hand use and pass rush moves to pressure the QB consistently in the NFL. Foster was not a highly productive defensive tackle at Illinois and struggles to make an impact in every game.

SUMMARY - Foster was viewed as a "sleeper" amongst NFL scouts because of his athleticism, competitiveness and deceptive playing strength at the end of the 2012 season. However, things changed greatly after Foster blew up the Illinois Pro Day (Weighing 286 pounds he ran a 4.78 40, vertical jumped 39 1/2, broad jumped 10' 9 and did 29 reps on the bench press) as he put himself squarely on every team's radar as a likely draftable prospect. Overall, Foster is not going to be a high draft pick, but he is going to be selected. Although he will need to add some weight to hold up at the POA vs NFL OL, his athleticism and versatility should lead to him being drafted between the fifth and seventh rounds.