SEC Spring Football 2015: Top 5 Position Battles

Sep 6, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffen and head coach Nick Saban all to quarterback Jake Coker (14)at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama Crimson Tide: Quarterback

I have waited to get to this. Some fans of the Crimson Tide are already anointing Jake Coker the starter as they did last year before Blake Sims beat him for the job. The Florida State transfer is now a senior and should have the starting quarterback role on a silver platter, right?

Not so fast, my friend.

The job may be up for grabs and here is why: Alabama has not one, not two, but three quarterbacks that have a shot of nabbing the starting job. This is definitely not a slap to Alabama, as all three are capable of doing great things with the Tide. Lane Kiffin knows how to develop quarterbacks – as we saw with Sims – and he has plenty to work with this season.

Coker definitely has the talent to win the starting job, as he was barely beaten out for the job in Tallahassee to Heisman winner Jameis Winston, then transferring to Alabama and barely getting beat out by Sims.  The main reason for being beaten out by Sims was his lack of knowledge of the playbook. That should be out the window this season as he has had a full year to fully understand and grasp the offense.

Hanging stride for stride with Coker are two former top recruits with limited experience, but both Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell are also very talented. Bateman was in the three-way race last year for the starting job but fell off due to his lack of consistency with his throws.

Still, Nick Saban has been positive about the junior and that is always a good thing to know the head coach has your back. Cornwell has the physique you want as a pro-style quarterback. He is 6’5′ and has a nice arm. He was sidelined last winter due to a ACL injury, but looks to be strong again.

Expect both of these talented athletes to make Coker’s path to the starting job a tough one.

My Prediction: Jake Coker finally gets to start at quarterback.

Next: Final Thoughts