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Reuben Foster: I’m trying to be the next Patrick Willis

By

Lauren Riley

/

SANTA CLARA — Moments after he was drafted by the 49ers Reuben Foster gave a powerful, confident and gripping interview with local reporters on a conference call. If his performance matches his quotes, he’s going to be one of the best players from the 2017 draft class.

Foster is setting the standards high for himself. He told us he wants to be the next Patrick Willis, a 7-time Pro Bowler and borderline Hall of Fame player for the 49ers. Foster is without question bringing a confidence and swagger this San Francisco locker room has been missing since Jim Harbaugh left in 2014.  Willis and NaVorro Bowman were a main part of the reason the 49ers were competing for Super Bowls earlier in the decade. If Foster can sniff Willis’ abilities, this team will be in business.

I’ll have a more in-depth column after we speak to John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan, but the risk is clearly worth the reward in this scenario. Solomon Thomas is the safe pick, Reuben Foster is the gamble. Sometimes the gambles end up paying off.

But again, many people had Foster as the projected second-best player in the NFL Draft. Greg Cosell raved about on KNBR, as have other experts. He doesn’t really have a weakness and can defend the run and pass from sideline-to-sideline. Get excited, Faithful.

Here are the highlights from his interview.

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