Blake Sims is current favorite to start for Alabama in opener vs. West Virginia
By Mike Marteny
Alabama reportedly will go with the in-house guy, at least initially, in Saturday’s season opener against the West Virginia Mountaineers. CBSSports.com has learned that Blake Sims is the favorite to start the game at quarterback. Florida State transfer Jacob Coker, who almost beat out Jameis Winston last spring, will come off the bench.
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Does this sound familiar, Tide fans? It should.
Back in 2011 for their opener against Kent State, Nick Saban also used a two-QB system. A.J. McCarron started the game over Philip Sims, but Sims played quite a bit in that game. McCarron separated himself in that game and became a three-year starter that won two national titles.
Us college fans know all about Nick Saban and his propensity for not giving anything pertinent to the media. The Tide still have three practices before the game on Saturday. The starting quarterback may well change three more times before then. For all we know, redshirt sophomore Alec Morris might even get a look.
Many assumed that once Coker transferred after losing the job to Winston, that he would step right in to fill McCarron’s shoes this year. Coker has not separated himself at all from fifth year senior Blake Sims, who has sat behind McCarron for two title runs.
Now it could very well be his team. At least for one year.
If Coker fails to win the job outright over the next few practices and the game against West Virginia, Alabama will have to go through this all again next season between Coker and Morris.