Jan 23, 2014 11:04 AM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles backup quarterback Jacob Coker has been granted release from his scholarship and will reportedly transfer to the University of Alabama.

Coker, a redshirt sophomore this season, is eligible to graduate in the spring, but will pursue a graduate degree. Coker's former high school football coach, Steve Mask, told AL.com the QB will not lose a year of eligibility and could potentially play for two years at Alabama.

Mask, head football coach at St. Paul's High School in Mobile, Ala., also said Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban has visited Coker's home and that an official university visit will happen soon.

"He's a recruitable guy," Saban told reporters in Mobile, where the Senior Bowl is being played. "We can't talk about anybody that we might be recruiting."

Coker's hometown is Mobile and he grew up a Crimson Tide fan, he even played with AJ McCarron at St. Paul's and was recruited by the University of Alabama. This time, although he could not talk about it, Saban appears he will get to coach Coker after all.

After losing the starting QB position at FSU to Jameis Winston, Coker will have another opportunity to win a wide-open QB vacancy left by McCarron. Winston went on to win the Heisman Trophy as well as lead the Seminoles to win the National Championship, so it would be safe to say that is why Coker chose to transfer.

At Alabama, other QBs competing for the starting position will be Blake Sims, McCarron's backup in 2013, Alec Morris, Cooper Bateman and Parker McLeod. With Lane Kiffin taking over as offensive coordinator, each will have a fresh start of sorts, but the offensive scheme will more than likely remain pro-style. Coker, probably Alabama's best fit, also got a vote of confidence from an unexpected person.

"Jacob is the only person I know that can throw off one leg better than anyone else," Winston told AL.com earlier this month. "When you see him at practice, he loves to throw and he just had surgery on his knee. Jacob is a great athlete, 6-4, 6-5 and 230, me personally I think Jacob can go anywhere and start in any program."

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