According to the university, Coker signed with Alabama on Sunday.

Coker is from Mobile, Ala., and was Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston’s backup at Florida State this past season.

"We think a lot of Jake and we are excited to have him join our team," Saban said in a statement. "He is not only an outstanding football player, but he is also a fine young man who we feel will be a great fit with our program at Alabama."

According to BamaOnline.com, Coker committed to Alabama coach Nick Saban on Saturday. He also met new Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.

"I feel very comfortable with the coaches and the players, and I'm looking forward to getting started at Alabama and competing," Coker said Sunday in a statement. "I also want to thank my coaches and teammates at Florida State. I had a great experience there and I'm excited to build on that at Alabama."

In seven games in 2013, Coker completed 18 of 36 passes for 250 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. He suffered a torn meniscus in November against Wake Forest and missed the rest of the season after having surgery.

He is expected to graduate in the spring at FSU, making him immediately eligible to play in Tuscaloosa for the 2014 season. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

With AJ McCarron finished at Alabama, Coker will compete for the starting position with Blake Sims, Alec Morris, Cooper Bateman and incoming freshman David Cornwell.


UNLV COACH GETS RAISE


UNLV head coach Bobby Hauck is getting a $200,000 raise, but not everyone is happy about it.

After three consecutive two-win seasons to begin his UNLV tenure, Hauck’s Runnin’ Rebels improved to 7-6 this season — their first winning season since 2000 — 5-3 in the Mountain West and reached a bowl game for the first time in 13 years.

Despite the turnaround, not everyone on the Nevada Board of Regents was on board with the raise. The vote was approved, 10-3, that Hauck’s salary would increase from $500,000 to $700,000. His salary was the lowest among the 12 head coaches in the Mountain West and now moves up to eighth, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

“I think this is a fair contract for everyone involved,” Hauck said. “We’re excited about the future of UNLV football.”

Ron Knecht was one of the three regents who did not vote for the pay increase.

“Somebody has to step back and say this thing is out of control,” Knecht told the Sun. “(Coaches’) compensation has gone up much faster than incomes of Nevadans.  That’s an indication of a broken model. Someone has to do something to stop it.”

Hauck is 13-38 in four seasons. He arrived at UNLV after going 80-17 in seven seasons at Montana.


ROCKER JOINS GEORGIA STAFF


Tracy Rocker, who won the Outland and Lombardi trophies as a defensive lineman at Auburn and spent the past three seasons coaching the position for the Tennessee Titans, has joined Mark Richt’s staff at Georgia.

This will be Rocker’s fourth stop within the SEC and the first coaching stop in his home state for the Atlanta native.

“It’s amazing how things start working out,” Rocker told the Ledger-Enquirer. “It was unique to me, because I grew up in Atlanta obviously, like anybody else you grow up and watch Georgia football. And that’s what I grew up (watching). And now I’m back closer to the house. And I’m part of a very prominent, historical, program.”

Rocker joins a new Georgia defensive staff, led by defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, who left Florida State recently after the Seminoles won the BCS title, to join the Bulldogs.

A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Rocker was a two-time All-American at Auburn and SEC player of the year in 1988 when he won the Outland and Lombardi.

He’s coached at Auburn (2009-11), Ole Miss (2008) and Arkansas (03-07) in the SEC, as well as Cincinnati, Troy and West Alabama. 


TERPS ADD FORMER LSU OL COACH


Maryland announced this weekend that former LSU offensive line coach Greg Studrawa will take over the same position with the Terrapins.

Studrawa was the offensive line coach at LSU since 2007. He was also offensive coordinator for the Tigers in 2011 and 2012.

“I am very excited to be part of the Maryland football staff,” Studrawa said in a statement. “After meeting with Coach (Randy) Edsall it was clear to see the passion and energy surrounding this program. I am looking forward to getting started and meeting with all of our student-athletes.”

Studrawa also has coaching stops at Bowling Green, Arkansas State and Cincinnati.

“Greg will be a great addition to our coaching staff,” Edsall said. “He comes from a diverse coaching background, with experience coordinating an offense as well as working with the offensive line. He has helped many players reach their goal of playing at the next level and his ability to teach will be very important in the development of our student-athletes.”

Contributor: Ken Bradley