Foster Dane Sarell (born August 28, 1998) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stanford and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens in 2021. He has also spent time with the New York Giants.

Foster Sarell
No. 73 – Los Angeles Chargers
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1998-08-28) August 28, 1998 (age 26)
Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:322 lb (146 kg)
Career information
High school:Graham-Kapowsin (WA)
College:Stanford (2017–2020)
Undrafted:2021
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Games played:24
Games started:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

edit

Sarell was born on August 28, 1998, in Tacoma, Washington. He attended Graham-Kapowsin High School, where he earned numerous accolades in football. He was thrice named the team's lineman of the year, was three times all-area, three times all-state, three times all-league, three times league offensive lineman of the year, and three times All-American. He was league MVP in 2016 and was named first-team USA Today All-USA that season. Sarell, a five-star recruit, was widely ranked the top high school player in the state and was listed by some sources as high as number two nationally. He additionally participated in track and field and basketball, while earning the High GPA Achievement Award in all four years at the school.[1]

College career

edit

After graduating from high school, Sarell committed to Stanford to play college football, becoming one of the school's highest rated recruits ever. Sarell was joined by two other five star prospects, quarterback Davis Mills and offensive lineman Walker Little.[2] As a true freshman in 2017, he played 14 games as a backup offensive lineman.[3] As a sophomore in 2018, Sarell appeared in two games before suffering an injury and played in only one afterwards, leading him to redshirt for the season.[4] He appeared in 11 games, each as a starter, in the 2019 season, being named to the All-Pac-10 Conference team as an honorable mention after the year ended.[1] As a senior in 2020, he started all six games in a season shortened by COVID-19.[1] Although Sarell had an extra year of eligibility in 2021, he decided to declare for the NFL Draft rather than return for a fifth season.[5]

Professional career

edit
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 6+12 in
(1.99 m)
318 lb
(144 kg)
33+38 in
(0.85 m)
9+34 in
(0.25 m)
5.58 s 1.89 s 3.22 s 4.69 s 7.63 s 27.0 in
(0.69 m)
8 ft 2 in
(2.49 m)
29 reps
All values from Pro Day[6]

Baltimore Ravens

edit

After going unselected in the 2021 NFL draft, Sarell was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent.[7] He was waived at the final roster cuts, on August 31.[8] Sarell returned to the Ravens on September 16, being signed to the team's practice squad.[9] However, he was released five days later.[10]

New York Giants

edit

On September 1, 2021, one day after being released from the Baltimore practice squad, Sarell joined the New York Giants practice squad.[11] After spending about a week there, he was released on September 28.[12]

Los Angeles Chargers

edit

Later, on October 14, 2021, he was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers as a practice squad member.[13] Sarell spent the whole season there, not appearing in a game, and was signed to a future contract on January 11, 2022.[14] At the final roster cuts in 2022, on August 30, he was released, after which he was re-signed to the practice squad.[15][16] He was promoted to the active roster for their week six game against the Denver Broncos,[17] and made his NFL debut in the 19–16 win, appearing on five special teams snaps.[18] He was elevated again for their game against the San Francisco 49ers in week ten, and recorded his first career start in the 16–22 loss, appearing on every offensive snap while allowing one sack.[19] He was signed to the active roster on November 26.[20] Sarell finished the season with seven regular season games played, three as a starter, in addition to one playoff game.[18]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Foster Sarell". gostanford.com. Stanford Cardinal.
  2. ^ Jude, Adam (January 27, 2017). "Foster Sarell, nation's No. 1 offensive lineman, commits to Stanford over UW". The Seattle Times.
  3. ^ Wright, Ryan (February 5, 2020). "How Have the Top Five 5-Star College Football Recruits from 2013-17 Performed?". Athlon Sports. Parade Media.
  4. ^ "Foster Sarell - Offensive Tackle Stanford Cardinal 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Report". Sports Illustrated. April 19, 2021.
  5. ^ Rayburn, Jacob (December 30, 2020). "Foster Sarell announces he will enter the NFL Draft". Rivals.com.
  6. ^ "2021 NFL Draft Scout Foster Sarell College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  7. ^ Oyefusi, Daniel (May 2, 2021). "Ravens 2021 undrafted-free-agent tracker: Two Big 12 standouts top the signings". The Baltimore Sun.
  8. ^ Oestreicher, Kevin (August 31, 2021). "Baltimore Ravens 2021 roster cuts tracker". USA Today.
  9. ^ McFadden, Ryan (September 16, 2021). "Ravens promote veteran RB Devonta Freeman to 53-man roster, sign OL Foster Sarell to practice squad". The Baltimore Sun.
  10. ^ Karpovich, Todd (September 21, 2021). "Ravens Sign A Pair of Offensive Tackles to Practice Squad". Sports Illustrated.
  11. ^ Benton, Dan (September 22, 2021). "Giants sign Jonotthan Harrison, Foster Sarell to practice squad". USA Today.
  12. ^ Leonard, Pat (September 28, 2021). "Ben Bredeson hand injury means Giants may start fourth left guard in four weeks". New York Daily News.
  13. ^ Borquez, Gavino (October 14, 2021). "Chargers sign 2 players to practice squad". USA Today.
  14. ^ Borquez, Gavino (January 11, 2022). "Chargers sign 11 players to future contracts". USA Today.
  15. ^ Miller, Jeff (August 30, 2022). "After Chargers cuts, not much depth behind star edge rushers Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack". The Los Angeles Times.
  16. ^ Peterson, Michael (September 1, 2022). "Chargers sign 14 players to practice squad". Bolts From The Blue. SB Nation.
  17. ^ Williams, Charean (October 17, 2022). "Chargers elevate Michael Bandy, Foster Sarell from practice squad". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  18. ^ a b "Foster Sarell Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  19. ^ Cothrel, Nicholas (November 14, 2022). "5 Takeaways From Chargers' 22-16 Week 10 Loss to 49ers". Sports Illustrated.
  20. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Activate Running Back Joshua Kelley". Chargers.com. November 26, 2022.

Further reading

edit