How Alabama QB Jake Coker Can Impact NFL Draft Stock in National Title Game

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker picked the perfect time to have the game of his life. Now all he needs is a follow-up.

In the Cotton Bowl Classic against the Michigan State Spartans, Coker completed 25 of 30 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Coker's performance in the 38-0 rout of the Spartans not only moved him and his Alabama teammates one step closer to the national championship—it also gave him plenty of momentum for his NFL future.

The senior already looks the part of a future NFL quarterback. His 6'5", 232-pound frame screams "next level." His arm strength is a huge asset, and he's shown the tough running ability that franchises love to see.

LM Otero/Associated Press

But the 23-year-old Coker's unorthodox journey to the biggest stage in college football has given him a thin body of work for NFL scouts.

"The big thing is that he's just played the one season, and NFL teams really want 3-4 years of film on a quarterback," Bleacher Report lead NFL draft writer Matt Miller said. "So that alone is going to hurt his stock to begin with."

That's what makes the national championship game against the Clemson Tigers such a big moment for Coker and his pro potential.

The Alabama signal-caller is currently rated as the No. 244 overall prospect in Miller's latest Top 300. That would put him on the edge of being a late-round selection and an undrafted free agent.

Other draft analysts are slightly higher on Coker, such as CBS Sports, which projects him as a fourth- or fifth-round pick. Many others, though, see Coker as a "project" at the next level.

Coker was flying low on the NFL draft radar heading into the postseason—so low that his invite to the Senior Bowl in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama, received criticism.

Some thought Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen deserved a shot more than the relatively inexperienced starter from Alabama.

But the tide turned for Coker, so to speak, at the Cotton Bowl. By setting career highs in completions, completion percentage and passing yardage against a fierce Michigan State defense, Coker drew plenty of eyeballs.

"[Coker] was very patient and accurate underneath early on in the game before cutting it loose and hitting several vertical throws later in the game," Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com wrote. "I was most impressed with his escapeability. He avoided several free rushers throughout the night."

Jeremiah argued Coker deserved a "deep look" from NFL scouts after his performance against Michigan State. According to NFL.com, one AFC scout was already on board with that idea before Coker took over on New Year's Eve in the playoff semifinal:

"

[Senior Bowl director Phil Savage] is going to take a lot of heat for choosing [Jake] Coker as a homer pick for a Senior Bowl spot at quarterback, but he's going to get drafted. He has size and a pro arm. I think he can be a better pro than college quarterback.

"

The notion Coker could be a better pro player than a college one makes sense. If he can stay on a roster for several years, it'll give him the continuity in an offense that he hasn't had much of so far.

His size and arm have always stood out, but as Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer wrote in his profile of Coker, he hasn't had much of an opportunity to put it all together on a consistent basis. 

"In high school, Coker ran the Wing-T offense up until his senior season, meaning that throwing the football was a rarity up until time he arrived on a college campus," Kramer wrote. "While he was still recruited for his size and ability, expectations for the 3-star signal-caller were minimal when he arrived at Florida State."

Coker fell behind eventual No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston on the Florida State Seminoles depth chart, and he lost another quarterback battle to Blake Sims last year after his transfer to Tuscaloosa.

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

When Coker took over as the starter for his final college season, he didn't get many opportunities to wow scouts. He had eventual Heisman-winning running back and all-around physical beast Derrick Henry behind him in the backfield, and grinding it out on the ground was highly successful for the Tide.

But Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin turned Coker loose from the first drive of the Cotton Bowl, and he delivered in a huge way for his team and any NFL eyes watching.

"We have a great quarterback and he had a great game," Alabama sophomore wide receiver ArDarius Stewart said, per Bleacher Report's Christopher Walsh. "It’s the most complete game we played all year."

Now Coker will have to prove he can do it again when Clemson comes calling in the desert. 

Clemson only allowed eight more rushing yards per contest than Michigan State through 14 games this season, and the front seven will be a similar matchup from a rushing perspective.

But when it comes to Coker throwing the ball, he'll have one of the biggest challenges of his career against Clemson. The Tigers are second nationally in opposing quarterback completion percentage and are filled with NFL talent in the secondary.

"Big games always carry more weight to them," Miller said. "And facing future NFL defensive backs like Mackensie Alexander, Jayron Kearse and Cordrea Tankersley will definitely help his stock if he can continue to play at a high level against them.

"There's something about evaluating against top-end talent like this that definitely can boost your stock."

Coker needs to prove the Cotton Bowl wasn't a fluke performance against a hit-or-miss Michigan State secondary.

He might not have to make as many throws as he did in the semifinal, but completing a high percentage of his attempts and taking care of the ball will be huge for his stock. The star-studded Clemson pass rush and secondary will provide a complete test of Coker's all-around skill set.

Having a big-time performance in the national championship game would give Coker tremendous buzz and momentum heading into the Senior Bowl—a stage Miller says will be important for his career.

"I think a huge key for Coker is using the Senior Bowl invite to really show up and dominate," Miller said. "He doesn't lack for anything from a size/arm perspective, so that'll be a good stage for him to prove his talent on."

If Coker can show some much-needed consistency in his final two games against collegiate competition, he'll be well on his way to hearing his name called at the draft podium in a few months.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Statistics courtesy of CFBstats.com. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.