On Wednesday, Pike County football star Khalil Foster signed his college letter-of-intent with the University of Southern Miss. 

Foster signed with Southern Miss over offers from schools like Tuskegee, Marshall and others. Foster’s older brother, Ian Foster, is an All-Conference safety at Southern Miss after transferring there from Marshall earlier this offseason. 

“The head coach (Charles) Huff moved to Southern Miss (from Marshall) and he stayed with me through it all,” Foster said of his decision. “At first my mom and them were keeping (the offer) from me and keeping it secret but I just kept believing and he believed in me and told me it’s not because of my brother, it’s about me. He just stayed invested in me the whole time. I really liked that.” 

Getting to play with his brother was also a factor in Khalil Foster’s decision. 

“It was a big factor to me, my parents get to come to our games together and I’ll still be close to family, about four hours away,” he said. “It means a lot (to play with Ian again). We get to destroy the backfield together again. Just having that chemistry together, playing together since we were young and growing up and teaching each other how to fit gaps and attack the ball means a lot. It’s just chemistry between us, a brotherhood.” 

As a senior, Foster earned All-State honors along with being the All-Messenger Defensive Player of the Year. Foster tallied 69 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, eight breakups and an area-leading seven interceptions. Foster did that despite overcoming two major surgeries.

“I just knew I couldn’t stay hurt,” Foster said. “I took my time to rehab – and that was important – but coming off two surgeries I still wasn’t afraid of anything. I came back quicker than expected and that’s just God’s work. I won’t question that.”

Foster, who will play safety at Southern Miss, said he’s focusing on being a good teammate as he starts his college career.

“I just want to get better,” he emphasized. “I’m not worried about being a starter, I’m just looking to be a (good) locker room person and fit in with the team and do whatever the coaches ask me to do and do it to my best ability.”