Clemson’s defensive end Justin Foster announced on Wednesday that his playing career is coming to an end after being left out of the 2020 season after a fight against COVID-19 that involved persistent complications. Foster received an honorable mention with All-ACC accolades after accumulating 41 tackles and 4.5 sacks in the 2019 season, and would have been eligible to return in 2021 as a fifth-year senior.
Foster graduated in construction science and management in December, and coach Dabo Swinney said he has a “unique opportunity that is weighing and pulling him” in his career outside of football. Foster expounded on the decision to give up playing in a message posted on social networks.
“For those who don’t know, I was born with asthma and allergies that, when active, affect my ability to breathe normally,” wrote Foster. “The combination of these conditions, together with the contraction of COVID, resulted in a great difficulty in physical performance. Although my situation has improved, I am not in a position now, nor do I see that position soon, to return to the field.”
Swinney said he tried to dissuade Foster from the decision, but acknowledged that “he had a very difficult fall” after hiring COVID-19 this summer. Foster entered the Clemson program as a four-star contender in Shelby, North Carolina, in the class of 2017. His field contributions have steadily increased, culminating in his outstanding 2019 season.
“If you know Justin Foster, you know first of all that he is a brilliant young man,” said Swinney. “He is incredibly smart. He has a lot of interests and is very talented. He has a great career ahead of him and knows exactly what he wants to do.”