Four-star QB headed to SEC
Cooper Bateman visited a handful of SEC school in recent weeks and then had gone relatively silent about the recruiting process.
That's a sign a decision could be near.
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The Salt Lake City (Utah) Cottonwood four-star pro-style quarterback announced his commitment on Wednesday that Alabama beat out LSU, Washington, Utah and many others that had gotten involved with one of the nation's top signal-callers.
"This has been a great time in my life, I have had the rare opportunity to be able to choose from many great schools that would allow me to get a college degree and continue to play the game that I love," Bateman said in a statement.
"This has been a very difficult decision only because I was able to meet and get to know so many wonderful coaches at so many great universities. I have chosen to attend the University of Alabama.
"I am honored that I will get to learn from Coach (Nick) Saban and Coach (Doug) Nussmeier and will get to represent Alabama, the state and the university. I want to thank my coaches at Cottonwood for all they have done for me and mostly to my parents who have made this all possible."
Rivals.com rates Bateman as the sixth-best pro-style quarterback and No. 129 prospect in the 2013 class.
In his junior season, the four-star threw for 2,484 yards with 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound recruit had 2,786 passing yards with 27 scores and five picks.
Bateman is expected to be an early enrollee at Alabama. Recently, the Salt Lake City Cottonwood recruit visited with the Crimson Tide, Auburn, LSU and Florida and then Washington for its junior day.
Alabama won out and landed a big-time quarterback.