photo by: Chris Duderstadt

Free State alumnus Gage Foster leads a celebration after his safety gave the Kansas All-Stars an early lead in the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association All-Star Game on Thursday, June 14, 2018, at Leavenworth. Foster and the Kansas All-Stars won, 30-0.

Former Free State linebacker Gage Foster has been waiting for this moment since January.

After getting nominated seven months ago, Foster will serve as the lone representative from the area in the 2018 Shrine Bowl on Saturday at Carnie Smith Stadium. Former Lawrence High quarterback Dante Jackson, who was also nominated, will not be playing in the annual showcase.

For Foster, however, it should be a good test to see how he stacks up against the best football players in the state.

“It’s really cool, because you know you can rely on everybody,” Foster said. “You know everybody has a good skill set. You know that they know how to play football and it’s not just guessing. Everyone is on the same level and now we are just trying to get on the same page.”

But Foster has already experienced some of that during practice over the previous week.

The East team started practicing in Emporia last Thursday before traveling to Pittsburg two days before the event. In practice, Foster has been utilized in different ways than he was used to during his time with the Firebirds.

Foster has been dropping back into coverage more frequently, something he rarely did at Free State when he was used as a blitzing linebacker.

“I’ve picked it up really well,” Foster said. “I’ve been learning it at Baker (University) over the summer, so I’ve put everything I learned from there into this. I also have had help from a lot of players. It’s just helped me learn, because I have never done that before.”

Yet it will be good practice for Foster, who will have a similar role at the collegiate level.

At Baker University, Foster will continue to be used more as a coverage linebacker in most defensive sets. This season, in particular, Foster expects to see some action on special teams, as he tries to work himself up to a larger role.

However, the prospect of working his way back up the ladder is what excites Foster most about playing in college.

“I really like that challenge,” Foster said. “I’ve been challenged like that before at Free State. I know what I can do, I just have to push myself to make myself want to do more everyday. I like the competitive aspect of it. I always have and I always will.”

Dante Jackson, who is transitioning back to receiver at the collegiate level, also expects to start off in a smaller role during his freshmen season at the University of Northern Colorado.

The Northern Colorado coaching staff asked Jackson not to participate in the Shrine Bowl, as they didn’t want to risk him getting injured before fall camp.

Still, Jackson plans to keep a close eye on the result of the game to see how Foster performs.

“Gage is an all-around great player,” Jackson said. “He’s the one that messed up my shoulder, so I know what kind of player he is. I’ve been good friends with him for awhile. I’m excited to watch him play, but I’m sad that I can’t play with him.”