Congratulations to Alex Coker of Washington High School, for signing his letter of intent to play at South Dakota.

This year Coker had 1,467 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground, and five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns, but Coker said he will be playing defense in college, and he is just find with that.

“I always told myself that I wanted to be a safety at the collegiate level, and I knew that is where I would excel at, at the collegiate level,” Coker said. “Being a running back was just a plus, and it will be something that I can tell my kids, that I went to state as a running back, but that change won’t be much of a change, because I’ve played defensive back my whole life.”

Coker was a safety for the Demons this year, and he will play that position at South Dakota. On defense, Coker had 13 solo tackles, 29 tackle assists, and three interceptions, and maybe he can talk his coach into letting him return kicks too; he had two punt returns for a touchdown and a touchdown off of a kickoff last year.

Former Demon head coach Randy Schrader said Coker signing for a Div. I school isn’t just good for him and the program, but for the entire school.

“Obviously it is a result of his hard work, and it is always great for the school as a whole, not just football, but the school as a whole, anytime we have someone go on to number one: continue their education, and number two: be an athlete at that level,” Schrader said. “He’s a product of the work that he has put in, he has a great family, very supportive, obviously the coaches have done a great job with him, and it’s just good for Washington.”

Coker will finish out his high school athletic career with track and field this spring.