Alabama may have lost a commitment this weekend from a five-star 2015 quarterback, but they, as expected, gained one from a player at the position who could help them immediately.
According to a report from BamaOnline.com, Jacob Coker committed to the Tide this weekend. Coker informed head coach Nick Saban of his decision Saturday, the website reported.
The commitment comes a few days after Florida State publicly acknowledged that Coker had been granted a release from his scholarship and would transfer out of the FSU football program.
Coker also met with Lane Kiffin, with the website writing that the redshirt sophomore was “very impressed” with the new UA offensive coordinator. In a sign of his level of commitment to and comfortability with the Tide, Coker stated that he will take no additional visits to other schools.
Coker played his high school football at St. Paul’s in Mobile, Ala., the same high school that produced the Tide’s starter at the position the last three years, AJ McCarron. With Coker seemingly headed back to his home state, he’ll be a part of a quarterback competition that will include McCarron’s primary 2013 backup Blake Sims and four-star 2014 recruit David Cornwell. Alec Morris could also be in the mix as well, at least early on.
As Coker will not graduate from FSU until late May, he would not be free to join the Tide until later that summer and will not be able to participate in UA’s spring practice sessions. Because he will be a graduate transfer, however, he would be eligible to play immediately and have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2014.
Following Clint Trickett‘s transfer from the Seminoles last spring, Coker and some guy named Jameis Winston “battled” for FSU’s starting job, with the latter winning the job and ultimately the Heisman in leading the ‘Noles to a BCS title. Coker served as Winston’s backup before suffering what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury in mid-November.