Clemson football: Justin Foster returns to team after retiring due to COVID complications
By Mark Powell
The Clemson defensive front just got a major boost for the 2021 season with the return of defense end Justin Foster.
Foster previously retired from the Clemson football program due to long-haul COVID-19 symptoms, in which people infected often experience some symptoms of the coronavirus months after recovery. After a discussion with his doctor at Duke University, Foster feels positive about his future in football, and is expected to contribute this coming season for Dabo Swinney.
“For me, the decision came when I went to Duke a couple weeks ago and the doctor was positive on me recovering in the near future,” Foster said, per Clemson Athletics. “In the next month or two, she thought I’d recover enough to compete at the college level, and she motivated me and said that if I wanted to play again, she’d encourage me to and support me and she would do the best she could to get me back healthy. She believed that I will be healthy and, for me, that was a big stepping stone.”
Dabo Swinney excited for Justin Foster to return to Clemson
Swinney spoke to the media about Foster’s pending return, and what it means to the Clemson football program.
“It’s not often you get a call from a great player that you think is gone and he says he’s coming back,” Swinney said. “He’s a great leader with great experience and a really talented football player.”
Foster was once viewed as a likely future NFL Draft pick. It’s unknown if he’ll regain that potential, but the positive spin is clearly that he’ll be able to play the sport he loves once again at a high enough level to contribute to one of the best teams in all of college football.
Foster recorded 66 career tackles and seven sacks prior to missing all of the 2020 season.
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