University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Ian Foster Takes Home Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week Honors
9/15/2025 12:53:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- A 99-yard pick-six propelled Southern Miss safety Ian Foster to Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors, the league office announced on Monday afternoon.Â
The redshirt sophomore from Brundidge, Ala., gave the Golden Eagles a 17-7 lead in the second quarter that was part of 17-straight points from Southern Miss in its 38-22 win over App State. The return tied for the third-longest interception return in school history - trailing only Kendrick Presley (2011 vs. Memphis) and Curtis Mikell (2016 at UTEP) - which were both brought back 100 yards.Â
Foster finished with a career-high 12 tackles, including five solo tackles. He added three pass breakups, one on a 3rd and 2 play late in the first half to silence a Mountaineer drive in which he almost collected his second interception, and one on 4th and 9 late midway through the fourth quarter to end another App State possession.Â
Foster's defensive honor is the first of its kind for Southern Miss since joining the Sun Belt in 2022. Kicker Andrew Stein was the last Golden Eagle to earn a weekly honor as he was named Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week after the first week of the season in 2023.
The Golden Eagles take a two-game break from Sun Belt action as they head to Louisiana Tech this Saturday. Kickoff from Ruston is set for 6:30 p.m. On ESPN+. Fans can purchase tickets for the Sept. 27 home game against Jacksonville State by CLICKING HERE.
Follow @SouthernMissFB on social media for the latest Golden Eagle news.Â
The redshirt sophomore from Brundidge, Ala., gave the Golden Eagles a 17-7 lead in the second quarter that was part of 17-straight points from Southern Miss in its 38-22 win over App State. The return tied for the third-longest interception return in school history - trailing only Kendrick Presley (2011 vs. Memphis) and Curtis Mikell (2016 at UTEP) - which were both brought back 100 yards.Â
Foster finished with a career-high 12 tackles, including five solo tackles. He added three pass breakups, one on a 3rd and 2 play late in the first half to silence a Mountaineer drive in which he almost collected his second interception, and one on 4th and 9 late midway through the fourth quarter to end another App State possession.Â
Foster's defensive honor is the first of its kind for Southern Miss since joining the Sun Belt in 2022. Kicker Andrew Stein was the last Golden Eagle to earn a weekly honor as he was named Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week after the first week of the season in 2023.
The Golden Eagles take a two-game break from Sun Belt action as they head to Louisiana Tech this Saturday. Kickoff from Ruston is set for 6:30 p.m. On ESPN+. Fans can purchase tickets for the Sept. 27 home game against Jacksonville State by CLICKING HERE.
Follow @SouthernMissFB on social media for the latest Golden Eagle news.Â
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