SFA's four-star quarterback: 'I feel like we'll shock a lot of people'

There's a special kind of optimism that comes with any football offseason. It's always exciting to add players and watch others grow during the festivities of spring games and open practices. Everyone can find a reason to believe in their team when it's February.

Then, occasionally, you get that really special kind of offseason. It's apparent in the recruiting victories and the little extra pep in the step of those who work around the program. Even when you can't see it, you feel it. As National Signing Day has come and gone at Stephen F. Austin, it's abundantly clear the Lumberjacks are indeed having that kind of offseason.

The talent-heavy signing class aside - and there are some special players in that bunch - the Lumberjacks added a number of mid-year enrolled players with abilities certainly beyond the norm for Southland Conference football.

Besides a four-day offseason stint from linebacker Devonte Fields in 2014, it's been a long time since SFA has boasted a player ever labeled a consensus four-star talent. In 2017, with transfers Foster Sawyer (TCU) and Frank Iheanacho (Texas A&M), the Lumberjacks bagged two.

Head coach Clint Conque has been clear that starting positions wont be handed to anyone. And yet, barring a surprise, that feels largely like a technicality on a team with a clear spot to fill at starting quarterback. For Sawyer, the kind of man who both looks and talks the part of the clean cut all-American boy, that opportunity is what brought his talents from his hometown of Fort Worth to Nacogdoches.

An odd fit in TCU's air raid system, Sawyer made the decision to transfer in early January. "I just felt like I needed to make a change with playing time and just start with a new beginning and get myself back on track," he remembers. Foster met with Conque and spoke with offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, a 34-year coaching veteran, shortly after his announcement on Twitter. It didn't take long for the former number-two quarterbacking prospect in the state of Texas to make up his mind. "I just had a good feeling about it talking with them," he said. "And scheme-wise it fits. Staying in Texas doesn’t hurt."

The presence of a familiar face, running backs coach Jake Brown, who joined the Lumberjacks staff this season from TCU didn't hurt either.

For the junior quarterback, though, the prospect of competing for a starting job, playing for veteran coaches, and with dangerous offensive talent was exciting. In SFA, Foster Sawyer has found all three. "There’s a lot of talent here," he said. "There really is. I’m coming here and I’m not wanting to do anything other than win conference championships and go to the playoffs. I feel like we’ll shock a lot of people this year just based off of how last season went here."

The spring practice season is still a few weeks away and already positive vibes around SFA football, after back-to-back disappointing injury-riddled seasons, seem to be returning. It helps to have a potential new face of the program with the exuberance of Foster Sawyer leading the charge.

Realistically, SFA will likely still be chasing Sam Houston State, the team expected to remain the favorite out of the Southland Conference in 2017. But with the confidence of new talented pieces, a reworked defense, and a steady team of savvy coaches, anything is possible for the squad in Nacogdoches.

And assuming all goes according to plan for Sawyer, the quarterback position, at least, should be a position of strength for the next two years.