Arian Foster understood that either road meant uncharted territory. He would realize his boyhood dream of playing in the NFL or return for his senior season with the chance to become Tennessee’s all-time leading rusher.
Seems the Big Orange records book is about to be challenged.
“This was a tough decision for my family and me,” said Foster, who after gaining a career-high 1,193 rushing yards this season stands only 685 away from sole possession of UT’s career mark. “Some nights I didn’t sleep.”
The San Diego native said this off-season presented personal opportunities he was “not used to seeing. You grow up wanting to play in the NFL, and it’s right there.”
But Foster decided to put that dream on hold for one more season — a season that could see him eclipse some storied names from the annals of Tennessee football history.
Foster stands seventh on the UT career rushing chart with 2,394 yards. Having already passed in 2007 such greats as Charlie Garner, Travis Stephens, Reggie Cobb and Curt Watson, Foster now stands behind only the following Vol legends in his bid for the all-time top spot in Tennessee rushing history: Jay Graham (2,609), Cedric Houston (2,634), Jamal Lewis (2,677), Johnnie Jones (2,852), James Stewart (2,890) and Travis Henry (3,078).
Still, that almost didn’t stop the 6-1, 225-pounder from testing his power running game against the world’s best.
“I got a lot better feedback that I even expected,” Foster said of his draft forecast from the NFL. “I got a second-round grade and, when talking to some people, they said I could have bumped into the first if I tested well at the combine. I believe I could have done that.
“It’s hard turning that down. Even the second round or third round, it’s a dream.”
Foster said he was impressed with Tennessee’s newest coaching staff members, especially running backs assistant Stan Drayton.
“He told me he could make me a better running back,” Foster said. “He told me my strengths and my weaknesses, and I liked hearing that. One more year of polishing myself and I feel I will be ready for the next level then.
Foster also said his teammates and he left some unfinished business on the field despite the 10-4 season that included a trip the SEC Championship Game and win over Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.
“The most important thing to me is I came to Tennessee to win,” he said. “I truly want to win a national championship. If I didn’t think the team coming back wasn’t qualified to do that, I probably wouldn’t be coming back.
“I’ve been in this league for three years now, four years as an observer, and I know what talent is. We have a lot of talent coming back. It’s rare to have that much talent on one team and I want to see what we can do with it.”

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