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The Alabama Crimson Tide announced that quarterback Parker McLeod will transfer to another school. McLeod becomes the second Tide quarterback to transfer after Luke Del Rio transferred to Oregon State. With Del Rio and McLeod gone, it is obvious that Jacob Coker will be the Tide’s next starting quarterback.
Coker transferred from the Florida State Seminoles after playing backup to Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston last season and E.J. Manuel the season before that. Since the news broke that Coker would be transferring he has been considered the front-runner for the starting job, and now that the Tide are short two quarterbacks, Coker has no quality competition.
The other quarterbacks on the roster who were up for consideration to be the starter had terrible performances during the Alabama spring game. Blake Sims, a senior with the ability to run and throw the ball, hurt his chances of becoming the starter. He completed only 13-of-30 passes for 178 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. It is seems as though Sims will never see valuable playing time at Alabama.
As for the other two quarterbacks on the roster, Cooper Bateman and Alec Morris, neither one has much of a shot at winning the battle. The two struggled during the spring game, finishing a combined 14-of-31 for 165 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Bateman was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and was expected to make some noise, but he hasn’t quite proved his worth.
Although Nick Saban says that there is an open competition, it is obvious who will take the place of A.J. McCarron. Coker has all the tools to be successful in the Alabama offense. Once he gets more familiar with the playbook, Coker should have no problem becoming the starter. The Crimson Tide faithful hope that he can help lead the team to a successful season in 2014.
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