Scouting Report and Highlights: Gators CB Commit Teddy Foster

The Florida Gators earn their first pledge from a 2024 cornerback prospect on Friday. What made Teddy Foster a top target for Corey Raymond’s unit?

Amanda Inscore/The News-Press USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida-USA TODAY NETWORK

Another day, another addition to the Florida Gators 2024 recruiting class. 

Florida continues to be one of the hottest programs on the trail over the summer, adding to its streak of pledges on Friday with the Gators' first cornerback pickup of the cycle in Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney prospect, Teddy Foster.

Foster is a long and lean defensive back with excellent ball skills, fitting right into the mold defensive backs coach Corey Raymond has prioritized over the course of his career dating back to his time at LSU.

All Gators went to the tape to expand on what exactly Foster brings to the table at the position.

Scouting report: Gators CB commit Teddy Foster

Upon first glance, Foster’s length — he's 6-foot-2, 170 pounds — and athleticism at the defensive back position pops off the tape.

A two-way standout for Cardinal Mooney, Foster performs well on the boundary on both sides of the ball as a pass catcher and coverage man.

Using the lauded versatility to his advantage, he does a great job of high-pointing the football and routinely making catches outside of his framework as a wideout. Both of these skills are useful when trying to intercept tipped passes and knock away well-placed footballs from the receiver’s hands in one-on-one coverage. 

Additionally, Foster’s football IQ has benefitted from the time spent on offense in his transition to the defensive back spot he’ll occupy at UF. It appears in how he mirrors wideouts in and out of their breaks and allows him to make instinctual plays on the ball while it's in the air.

At the prep level, Foster operates in a lot of off-man and zone coverage schemes, excelling when he is able to have his eye in the backfield on the passer. That's not to say he can't play press-man — something he’ll be required to do at Florida — as he possesses the prototypical stature and skill set to prove more than adequate in that area.

In the instances he does perform in press coverage currently, Foster does a good job flipping his hips, running with the wideout and then turning his head around to make a play on the ball when in phase.

However, it’s evident he’s at his best and most comfortable when he has the opportunity to scan the field to use his aforementioned instincts and football IQ to read the passer and break on the ball.  

While Foster may not have elite top-end speed, when he makes his read and decides to break, he has excellent acceleration and closing speed to overcome it. He can close the distance in a hurry, knocking the ball away or delivering a blow to the pass catcher that will separate them from the football.

Foster’s physicality comes in spite of his slight frame.

When playing in press, he does a good job of jamming the wide receiver and not allowing them a free release, although it is an area he can grow more adept at upon reaching the next level as he hasn’t done it much for the Cougars. He also isn't afraid to stick his nose into the fire against the run and showcases a propensity to make tone-setting hits while enjoying the contact.

However, it often comes via throwing a shoulder instead of wrapping up at the point of attack, a practice that will likely cease to be effective in the SEC against bigger ball carriers.

All in all, Foster has several tools and traits you look for in a high-level DB prospect. 

Foster is the first corner and third defensive back to join the Gators class with safeties Xavier Filsaime and Josiah Davis also in the fold. 

Florida will be looking to add a couple more as well before the cycle is finished. Names like Zavier Mincey, Jamari Howard and Wardell Mack appear as remaining targets. 

Observe Foster's junior season highlights below. 

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