Donte Foster signs with Vikings’ practice squad

Guthrie High School alum Donte’ Foster is back with the Minnesota Vikings. On Tuesday he was signed to the team’s practice squad.

Foster, who spent all of last season on the Vikings practice squad, was with the Vikings in the preseason until being waived Sept. 5.

Foster, undrafted in 2014 from Ohio University, is the second player from Guthrie to have an exclusive opportunity at the NFL level. In the ninth round of the 1988 draft, New England selected Neil Galbraith with the 240th selection.

Foster finished with 2,170 receiving yards and 21 TDs on 167 receptions at Ohio.

While at Guthrie High School, Foster was named All-Oklahoma as a senior after leading Class 5A in receiving yards and earned all-star honors from the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association. He was also a quarterfinalist for Oklahoma’s Mr. Football honor during his senior season. As a junior, Foster helped lead the BlueJays to a Class 5A state title. During his junior and senior seasons at Guthrie, Foster amassed 80 catches for 1,408 yards with 25 touchdown catches. He also totaled 163 yards on the ground for three more scores.

On the hardwood, Foster began his career with a bang when he was named
Oklahoma’s Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. He then claimed All-Oklahoma honors three times and was named Class 5A Player of the Year as a junior. He was also voted Most Valuable Player of the state playoffs as a senior, where he averaged a double-double. His Guthrie BlueJays won the Class 5A state title during both his junior and senior campaigns.

Foster, who was a member of one football, two basketball, and one track state championship team at Guthrie, made national fame with his buzzer beating shot with his back toward the goal. To view the shot and his incredible one-handed football catch click here.

What is a practice squad?

The practice squad consists of 10 extra spots for players to practice with an NFL team but not participate in games. The practice squad is useful for a number of reasons. One, it helps teams hold onto developmental players with upside who aren’t quite yet deserving of a spot on the 53-man roster. Two, it provides the team with extra bodies in practice.

Practice squad players earn a minimum of $6,300 per week, which totals $107,100 for a 17-week stint. A team can pay a practice squad player however much they want to entice the player to stay on their practice squad. Practice squad salaries do count against a team’s cap space.