The line of succession at quarterback for Alabama came into focus Sunday, as the long-rumored addition of Jacob Coker from Florida State reportedly became reality during a weekend visit to the Tuscaloosa, Ala. campus.
The transfer of Coker, who will be immediately eligible to play for the Crimson Tide next season after he graduates this spring, was confirmed Sunday by the school. Coker will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
"We think a lot of Jake and we are excited to have him join our team," head coach Nick Saban said in a statement. "He is not only an outstanding football player, but he is also a fine young man who we feel will be a great fit with our program at Alabama."
UA loses AJ McCarron, who went 36-4, won two BCS national championships and set numerous school records in three seasons as the starting quarterback. While there is plenty of touted talent already on campus, Saban clearly felt he needed an upgrade at the position.
Coker (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) should offer just that, after going head-to-head with eventual Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston during spring practice and fall camp last season. Seminoles players and coaches all insisted that Coker and Winston were on even footing throughout that competition ahead of the BCS championship game win over Auburn, with many professing that the team would likely be in the same position had Coker been named the starter.
"People look back on it and they don't believe us, but it was a very, very competitive situation," FSU quarterbacks coach Randy Sanders said earlier this month.
As Winston's backup, Coker was 18-of-36 passing for 250 yards and one interception in seven games before suffering a knee injury that sidelined his for the rest of the season. Coker was still on crutches during the BCS title game media day.
Coker's best attribute is his outstanding arm talent, which should mesh well with the offense Saban has tended to feature. Even with a new offensive coordinator in former USC head coach Lane Kiffin, UA should continue to be run-heavy and then work the play-action pass off of it.
And if Coker lives up to his immense billing and leaves after only one season, UA will not have top 2015 recruit Ricky Town as a possible successor. The Ventura (Calif.) St. Bonaventure product retracted his non-binding verbal commitment and pledged to USC instead on Saturday, a move that had been widely expected because of his rocky relationship with Kiffin.
Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.
