It's time for Antioch's Coker to hear the cheers

Tennessee football commitment LaMarcus Coker will undergo a transformation tonight. When Antioch High School plays at Hendersonville, Coker will no longer be the team's most talented cheerleader; he'll take the field as Antioch's starting tailback.

"I've been like a cheerleader since I got hurt," Coker said. "I've got to come back like I was never there."

Coker suffered a hamstring pull in Antioch's third game of the season on Sept. 10.

"It was wet outside. I was hit out of bounds and I pulled it," Coker said. "I tried to come back too early and it tore."

Coker's injury put his personal and team goals on hold. Before the injury, Coker was a near lock to become Antioch's all-time leading rusher. Now, with only 458 yards this season, Coker needs just over 1,300 to reach the mark.

Coker's only shot at breaking the record is a deep run into the playoffs. With two region losses, a playoff spot is on the line tonight.

"I'm excited to try to help my team get in the playoffs," said Coker who said his hamstring is 100 percent. "If we win the next two we're in. We have to have them."

Playing the part of cheerleader has not been easy for Coker. Coker committed to Tennessee in January. The junior was UT's first commitment of the 2005 class. It was supposed to be the first step in a well-laid plan that included wins for Antioch and records for Coker.

"It's hard when you've been playing all this time and it comes to your senior year and you've hurt," Coker said. "You're just watching. A lot goes down the drain but I'm excited to help my team get into the playoffs."

Coker said he had never been injured before this year. His injury has cost him a top honor. Although nominated, Coker was not invited to the U.S. Army high school all-star game.

The game annually draws the top prospects in the nation to the game in San Antonio on Jan. 15. Coker will have to wait and hope that another player's cancellation gives him an opportunity.

"I didn't get invited because I didn't play all year," Coker said. "If there are some guys that can't make it, they have no choice to put me in."

Despite the injury and subsequent disappointment, Coker's long-term plan is still on schedule. Coker said he would "probably not" take any official visits other than to UT.

Injuries are one of the reasons athletes commit early. Scholarship offers are non-binding but are rarely withdrawn due to injury once a prospect commits. Coker's injury might have actually strengthened his dedication to UT.

"I made a very smart decision," Coker said of his decision to commit to UT early. "Coach (Phillip) Fulmer let me know that if I got hurt, my scholarship wouldn't be taken away even if I couldn't play football anymore.

"When you find a place where you feel like you're at home nothing else should matter."

Aside from cheerleader, Coker has used his free time to try to bolster UT's upcoming class. Coker has befriended Goodpasture wide receiver Patrick Turner.

Turner has received scholarship offers from LSU, Miami, Southern Cal, and Tennessee. Turner, likely the top prospect in Tennessee, has been hesitant to name a leader. Coker said Vol fans shouldn't take that too personally.

"I think there's a very good chance he'll pick Tennessee," Coker said. "I think he's having a good time with recruiting.

"He changes his top schools every week and Tennessee never drops out. He knows where he needs to be. I'm trying to get him real hard but I'm not trying to force him either."

Coker may not force Turner into a decision, but he'll likely cheer him on.