Newton’s Gabe Foster Adds Offers From Sam Houston State + Stephen F. Austin

Gabe Foster has received the best news an established college football recruiting target can get.

Offers from Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday give the rising senior Newton running back and defensive back multiple choices for when it comes time to pick a college home. Foster (6-3, 180), who already had an offer from fellow Southland Conference school McNeese State, reported the new scholarship opportunities via Twitter.

The two-way standout helped Newton reach the Class 3A Division II state championship game last season. He had 91 carries for 586 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense in addition to 66 tackles and an interception on the defensive side.

Foster's new offers come in a period of high activity for East Texas prospects receiving interest from Southland Conference schools. Van running back Aphonso Thomas picked up an offer from Stephen F. Austin on Monday and Nacogdoches receiver Alex Gregory was contacted by McNeese State on Tuesday.

Sam Houston State enjoyed an excellent 2014 season, culminating with a trip to the FCS playoffs semifinal round. It lost to North Dakota State which went on to win the national championship.

The Bearkats finished the year with an 11-5 record under first-year head coach K.C. Keeler.

Keeler won an FCS national championship as the head coach of Delaware in 2003 and contested in the championship game in 2007 and 2010.

Stephen F. Austin also enjoyed a banner year under a new head coach. Clint Conque guided the program to its first FCS playoff appearance since 2010.

The Lumberjacks fell on the road to then-No. 10 Northern Iowa in the first round and finished the year with an 8-5 record.

Coincidentally, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin play their most high-profile conference game against each other. The two teams have met annually at the Houston Texans' NRG Stadium since 2010.

The Bearkats have won the past four meetings.

Foster, like all football prospects in the Class of 2016, will become eligible to sign with any school that offers him on Feb. 3.