Alabama starts Jake Coker at QB vs. Wisconsin

ARLINGTON, Texas – Jake Coker is Alabama’s starting quarterback – which is only to say, he started the season opener tonight against Wisconsin. The job might still be up for grabs.

The senior, who transferred a year ago after graduating early from Florida State, got the nod ahead of as many as four other contenders in a competition that had been shrouded in secrecy. When the Crimson Tide’s depth chart was released a few days ago, it listed Coker “OR” sophomore Cooper Bateman “OR” junior Alec Morris.

Those three were apparently ahead of freshmen David Cornwell and Blake Barnett, but at various times during a competition that stretched back to last spring, all five seemed to have moments. During his weekly radio show Thursday, Alabama coach Nick Saban said the race had been whittled to two.

“We have two guys that have really done a nice job in the last couple weeks that we have confidence in, that I believe in, that can win the game and do a really good job with the quarterback position,” Saban said, according to AL.com – without hinting which two players he meant.

Turned out, Coker – the only player who’d thrown a pass in college – took the first snap, though what it might mean remains up for debate. Saban also indicated Thursday he might play both quarterbacks.

Still, it’s different than a year ago for Coker. When he transferred from Tallahassee, he was expected by many to take over for A.J. McCarron. Instead Blake Sims won the job and went on to lead an offense that set school records.

This time, Coker got the nod – for now at least.

HOW THE TOP 25 FARED IN WEEK 1