May 19, 2013

Reuben Foster: NCAA investigators to meet with Auburn 5-star LB recruit

August 13, 2012 4:09 pm Leave a Comment

5-star LB Reuben Foster, surrounded by family, will meet with NCAA investigators on Monday (247sports.com)

5-star LB Reuben Foster, surrounded by family, will meet with NCAA investigators on Monday (247sports.com)

Reuben Foster’s change of high schools and college commitment has led to a meeting with NCAA investigators on Monday afternoon, his mother confirmed to the AJC.

Foster, who is ranked as the nation’s No. 2 overall college football prospect, transferred from Troup High School to Alabama’s Auburn High School 40 miles away in mid-April.

Last month, the 5-star linebacker who is entering his senior season also announced his new college destination would be Auburn after being committed to rival Alabama for 12 months.

“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 has said the reason he left Troup was because his coach, Charles Flowers, was fired after last season. His mother reiterated that on Monday, while also adding, “I picked Auburn High School for us because it’s a better school system for academics. Reuben only has one more year of high school, but it was my baby girl [Kayla, 12 years old] who I was more worried about. I want them to get a good education.”

Since Foster flipped from Alabama to Auburn on July 12, there has been a ton of backlash, according to Paige. “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.”

Why did Foster switch to Auburn? When Foster went public with the decision, he only read a short statement and did not take any questions from reporters. Paige provided some insight:

One day after flipping from Alabama, Reuben Foster got a gigantic Auburn tattoo on his forearm. His mother said the entire family intends to get Auburn tattoos

One day after flipping from Alabama, Reuben Foster got a gigantic Auburn tattoo on his forearm. His mother said the commitment is so strong that the entire family intends to get Auburn tattoos

“Reuben said I won’t have to travel so far for his games since we live in Auburn now. Plus it had to do with those shootings at Auburn. Ladarious Phillips was his cousin who played football at Auburn and was one of those who got killed. That played a big role in Reuben’s decision. He wants to carry on Ladarious’ legacy at Auburn.”

One day after flipping to Auburn, Foster cemented the decision by getting a gigantic Auburn tattoo on his forearm. His mother said the commitment remains so strong that the entire family intends to get Auburn tattoos, also.

RELATED: Two of Auburn’s current freshmen recruits are also dealing with the NCAA, including one player facing allegations that his high school transcript was falsified (click here for more)

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– By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog

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Article source: http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2012/08/13/reuben-foster-ncaa-investigators-to-meet-with-auburn-5-star-lb-recruit/

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