Posted on Wed, Feb. 4, 2009
Temple recruit Coyer stays true to his word
By Mike Kern
No, Chris Coyer couldn't have gone anywhere he wanted to play college football. But he certainly had options. And upon further review, Ohio State wanted him. There was only one problem. The lefthanded quarterback had already given Temple his verbal commitment. And he wasn't about to renege on that, even if it meant saying thanks, but no thanks to a perennial Top 10 program.
"Temple's always been there, from the very beginning," said Coyer, a 6-3, 210-pound dual threat from Oakton High in Vienna, Va. (suburban Washington). "I'd really built some relationships with the coaches. I felt like they wanted me more than anyone else [at the position]. I always wanted to play for a BCS school. That's the dream of most kids growing up. But as it went further and further along [in the recruiting process], it came down to what was the best fit. Where would I have the most chance to succeed?"
So today, Coyer becomes a part of the class that officially will sign national letters of intent to play for Al Golden, who's not allowed to comment until then.
OSU actually got serious about Coyer a week ago, after another prospect, Tajh Boyd, opted for Clemson. But by that point, it was too late.
"Ohio State wanted me to come in and redshirt a year. Temple's going to give me a shot to compete for the starting job [right away]," explained Coyer, who passed for 1,401 yards last season and rushed for 1,287 more. "But that didn't matter. Either way, I'm going to get a chance to play 4 years. The opportunity seemed about even to me. Temple just felt right.
