Alabama QB McLeod will transfer; Saban not ready to name Coker starter
With AJ McCarron out of the picture and in the NFL, Alabama will have a new starting quarterback when its season begins on Aug. 30 against West Virginia.
The Crimson Tide exited spring practice with six scholarship quarterbacks on a crowded depth chart, but now that field is a little less crowded. Head coach Nick Saban told reporters at SEC’s spring meetings that redshirt freshman Parker McLeod has been given the opportunity to seek out a transfer.
Nick Saban said Parker McLeod has been given permission to look around for a transfer opportunity.
— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) May 27, 2014
The 6-foot-3, 193-pound McLeod, who was a Rivals three-star recruit in the class of 2013, was not expected to be a serious contender for playing time in 2014. Per Al.com, McLeod’s only pass during Alabama’s A-Day game last month was intercepted. He is the fifth quarterback signed by Saban who opted to transfer.
With McLeod out of the picture, Alabama has five scholarship quarterbacks: senior Blake Sims, junior Jacob Coker, sophomore Alec Morris, redshirt freshman Cooper Bateman, and true freshman early enrollee David Cornwell.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Coker, a Florida State transfer who was edged on the Seminoles’ depth chart by Heisman winner Jameis Winston last season, is widely expected to win the job with Sims serving as his primary backup. Coker graduated from FSU and will be immediately eligible to suit up for the Tide this fall.
Saban was asked about the probability of Coker being Alabama’s starter, but he was not ready to commit to that.
Saban on Jacob Coker being Tide QB: "Everybody is way ahead of me on that one. I have not seen the guy throw the ball since high school."
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) May 27, 2014
Coker, who tore his meniscus last November, has yet to practice with the Tide. He was finishing up classes in Tallahassee during Alabama’s spring practices, but he is expected to be ready to participate when summer practices roll around.
Coker, a native of Mobile, Ala., completed 18-of-36 passes for 250 yards for the Seminoles in mop-up duty in 2013 prior to his injury. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
For more Alabama coverage, visit Rivals' TideSports.com.
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