Alabama Football Recruiting: How Cooper Bateman's Decision Impacts Future of SEC

Cooper Bateman grabbed the recruiting headlines on Wednesday, when the 4-star quarterback committed to play for Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Bateman is considered the No. 4 pro-style quarterback in the country by 247Sports.com, and will likely contend for the starting quarterback job in Tuscaloosa as soon as A.J. McCarron leaves campus.

According to Matt Scalici of AL.com, Bateman had narrowed his decision down to Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida and Washington.

So how does Bateman's decision impact the other SEC finalists?

LSU Tigers

It's no secret that LSU is in the quarterback market. The Tigers will have junior Zach Mettenberger for two more seasons, which means that the recruiting landscape in relation to playing time is exactly the same between LSU and Alabama. Any quarterback in the 2013 class could redshirt in 2013, and conceivably compete for the vacant spot as a redshirt freshman in 2014.

LSU isn't as married to the pro-style system as Alabama is, but still has offers out to pro-style quarterbacks Cody Thomas, Jeremy Johnson and Riley Ferguson. Expect the Tigers to turn up the heat on all three of those quarterbacks after losing out on the Bateman sweepstakes.

Auburn Tigers

Auburn isn't as desperate as LSU and Alabama for a pro-style quarterback, although it's still clearly a goal for head coach Gene Chizik this recruiting season.

Chizik won't admit it yet, but Kiehl Frazier won the starting quarterback job this spring. The true sophomore isn't necessarily a pro-style QB, but he was the USA Today All-USA Offensive Player of the Year in 2010, and adjusted to new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler's system well this spring.

Expect the Tigers to dial up the pressure on the nation's No. 5 pro-style quarterback Kevin Olsen and No. 18 Ryan Buchanan. Alabama was in Olsen's top 5 as well, so Auburn's chances for the Wayne, N.J. native look a little better following Bateman's decision.

Florida Gators

Florida is essentially in the same position as Auburn, but with more wiggle room. The Gators haven't named a starting quarterback for this season yet, but it will be a sophomore—either Jacoby Brissett or Jeff Driskel.

The Gators struck out on Bateman, Christian Hackenberg and Kohl Stewart, and aren't on Olsen's final five. Cody Thomas is the only pro-style quarterback left on Florida's offer list, so expect Will Muschamp and Co. to try to flip someone in the near future.

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