It was announced on Monday that former Pike County star Ian Foster would be transferring to Southern Miss University to continue his college football career.

Foster, who played the last two years at Marshall, entered the transfer portal after head coach Charles Huff left Marshall to take the same position at Southern Miss.

“Southern Miss felt different from the other schools,” Foster told The Messenger of his decision. “I just felt home as soon as I stepped on campus and got welcomed in by the staff. Huff going there was a plus, he’s somebody I can trust to put me in the best spot.”

Foster earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors this past season as a kick returner after leading the country in kickoff return average. Foster averaged 32.4 yards per return on 16 kickoff returns this season, totaling 518 yards. His five kickoff returns of 40 or more yards also leads the country along with his three returns of 50 or more yards. Foster has a total of 15 kickoff returns for 501 yards this season. Foster also started at safety for the Thundering Herd this season, tallying 48 tackles, five tackles-for-loss and four pass breakups.

Foster will have three years of college eligibility left at Southern Miss. He’s already setting goals for himself at his new school.

“My goals for Southern Miss is to be All-Sun Belt in defense, as well as the return game again,” he continued. “And I want to finish out to be an All-American.”

Foster was a standout at Pike Liberal Arts School in Troy, helping lead the Patriots to an AISA State Championship in 2021. He earned All-State honors as a defensive back at Pike Lib and then as a senior at Pike County, in 2022, he earned All-State honors as a receiver. He was also the All-Messenger Most Valuable Player for that season along with earning All-Messenger honors as a receiver, defensive back and kick returner.