Ramon Foster

Ramon Foster

Foster in 2015
No. 73 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Position:	Guard
Personal information
Born:	(1986-01-07) January 7, 1986 Henning, Tennessee
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	328 lb (149 kg)
Career information
High school:	Ripley (TN)
College:	Tennessee
Undrafted:	2009
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (2009–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
2nd Team All-SEC Rivals.com (2007) Freshman All-SEC Coaches (2005) ESPN All-MayDay Team (2007)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 1, 2015
Games played: 87 Games started: 72

Ramon Foster (born January 7, 1986), nicknamed "The Big Ragu", is an American football guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He is the brother of former St Louis Rams offensive lineman, Renardo Foster. He played college football at Tennessee where he played in a career total of 44 games and also earned All-SEC honors as a freshman a junior.

Early career

Foster started for all four year both on offense and defense at Ripley High School in Ripley, Tennessee and also handled some place-kicking and kickoff duties. He was also a three-year starter on the school's basketball team. He also competed in track and field achieved a career-best shot put of 45-11.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Coming out of Tennessee in 2009, Foster attended the NFL combine and participated at Tennessee's annual Pro Day. He was projected by many analysts to be drafted from anywhere from the sixth to seventh round or a priority undrafted free agent. He was rated as the 23rd best offensive tackle in the draft out of the 183 available by NFLDraftScout.com.

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 5+1⁄2 in (1.97 m)	328 lb (149 kg)	5.66 s	2.00 s	3.30 s	4.98 s	7.96 s	26 in (0.66 m)	7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)	20 reps
All values from NFL Combine

Pittsburgh Steelers

2009

On April 27, 2009, Foster was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He entered training camp competing to be a back-up guard against the Steelers' 2009 third-round draft pick, Kraig Urbik. Following an injury to starting veteran guard Darnell Stapleton during training camp, Foster gained the opportunity to become the starting right guard. He ultimately lost the starting job to Trai Essex and was named at backup guard and right tackle to begin the season. He madehis professionsl regular season debut during a Week 3 contest at the Cincinnati Bengals. On November 29, 2009, he received his first career start in a Week 12 loss, to the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, after replacing an injured Chris Kemoeatu at left guard. Foster returned to the starting position on December 20, 2009, against the Green Bay Packers and remained there for the last three games of the regular season, as the Steelers ended with a 9–7 record and missed the playoffs.

As a rookie in 2009, Foster had four starts and played in 14 games.

2010

Although he finished his rookie season as the starting left guard, he entered training camp competing with Trai Essex and Kraig Urbik for the starting job. He was named the backup to starting guards Essex and Kemoeatu to begin the season and made his seadon debut in a Week 3 38–13 victory at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On November 14, 2010, he made his first start of the season, replacing an ineffective Trai Essex at right guard, in a 39-26 loss to the New England Patriots. He then remained the starting guard for last 7 games of the 2010 season. He finished his second season with 8 starts in 12 games played.

2011

Foster entered training camp in 2011 competing with Chris Kemoeatu, Doug Legursky, and Trai Essex for both starting guard positions. He lost the starting right guard to Legursky but was named the starter for a Week 2 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. After sitting out the next week, he returned in Week 4 against the Houston Texans and remained the starter for the rest of the season. This marked the third consecutive year he began the year as a backup but finished the season as a starter and marked the beginning of being a mainstay on the Pittsburgh Steeler's offensive line.

The Steelers finished atop the AFC North with a 12–4 record and Foster went on to start at right guard in a 31-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. He finished 2011 with a career-high 14 games started in 15 games played.

2012

Foster was named the starting right guard after winning the job over rookie David DeCastro and started the Pittsburgh Steeler's season-opener against Denver Broncos. This also marked his first full season playing and starting at guard.

2013

He was moved over to left guard after the departure of Willie Colon and started all but one game throughout the season. The Steelers kept Foster out due to injury during a Week 11 matchup against the Detroit Lions. On March 11, 2013, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Foster to a three-year, $5.50 million contract that also included a $900,000 signing bonus. They rewarded him with a new contract after showing promise the last two seasons.

2014

He started the Pittsburgh Steeler's season-opening 30-27 victory over the Cleveland Browns and started the following game. Foster then missed Week 3 and 4, after twisting his ankle during a practice. He returned to his starting role during a Week 5 victory at the Jacksonville Jaguars. He started 14 games in 2014, helping the Pittsburgh Steelers finish first in the AFC North with an 11-5 record.

2016

On May 9, 2016, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Foster to a three-year, $9.60 million contract with a signing bonus $2.75 million.

External links

• UT Sports Official Bio
• Pittsburgh Steelers Bio