Florida redshirt freshman defensive back Teddy Foster is officially heading for the transfer portal, marking a new chapter in a young career that’s still very much in development.
Foster, a 6-foot-1, 188-pound defensive back out of Sarasota, Florida, saw limited action in 2025, appearing in six games for the Gators. He registered two total tackles this season-one of them solo-with those coming in Florida’s season-opening win over Long Island University and the Week 4 road loss to Miami on September 20.
Across his two seasons in Gainesville, Foster logged six total tackles (four solo). While the stat line might not jump off the page, it’s important context for a player who came in with raw tools and upside, still learning the position after just a year and a half of high school football experience before arriving at Florida.
Foster was part of the Gators’ 2024 recruiting class and came in as a three-star prospect out of Cardinal Mooney High School. He was ranked the No. 69 cornerback nationally and No. 95 overall prospect in the state of Florida. His recruitment saw him take official visits to Florida, North Carolina, and Oregon State before he committed to the Gators in July 2023.
Florida offered him in May of that year, and the Gators’ pitch was centered around development. Defensive backs coach Corey Raymond played a key role in Foster’s decision.
Foster spoke highly of Raymond at the time, calling him “the best of the best” when it came to player development. The two hit it off early during the recruiting process, and Foster said their meetings felt natural-just two football minds talking ball.
But it wasn’t just Raymond who helped seal the deal. Foster cited the program’s overall plan for his growth-both on and off the field-as a major factor. He had in-depth conversations with defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, who broke down Foster’s potential reps and outlined a vision for how he’d be developed in Florida’s defensive system.
Head coach Billy Napier also left a strong impression. Foster recalled a conversation with Napier that stuck with him, particularly when the coach talked about his time at Louisiana. Napier explained how he built competitive teams not by landing five-star recruits, but by developing under-recruited players-something Foster said he related to, considering his limited experience in high school football.
“I believe right now that I am still raw. I am not done yet,” Foster said at the time. That self-awareness and hunger to grow were central to why Florida saw potential in him, and why Foster felt Gainesville was the right place to start his college journey.
He signed with Florida in December 2023 and enrolled early in January 2024, getting a head start on his transition to the college game.
Now, with two seasons under his belt and still early in his career, Foster is looking for a fresh start. While his time at Florida didn’t produce a breakout moment on the field, the foundation is there. He’s a long, athletic corner with room to grow-and now, he’ll be searching for a program that can help unlock that next level.