Joshua Coker
{{short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
|name=Joshua Coker
|team=Calgary Stampeders
|image=2023, 54, Joshua Coker.jpg
|caption=Coker with the Calgary Stampeders in 2023
|status=Active
|import=yes
|position1=Offensive lineman
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1997|11|13}}
|birth_place=Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
|number=54
|college=Rhodes
|high_school=Greater Atlanta Christian
|height_ft=6
|height_in=2
|weight_lbs=318
|playing_years1={{NFL Year|2019}}
|playing_team1=Houston Texans*
|playing_years2={{CFL Year|2020}}–present
|playing_team2=Calgary Stampeders
|career_footnotes=
|career_highlights=
- First-team All-American (2018)
- Second-team All-American (2017)
- 2× First-team All-SAA (2017–2018)
|CFL=joshua-coker
}}
Joshua "D. J." Coker (born November 13, 1997) is an American professional football offensive lineman for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Rhodes. He has also been a member of the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL).
Early life
Coker was a four-year letterman in both football and wrestling at Greater Atlanta Christian School in Georgia.{{cite web | url=https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/prep/greater-atlanta-christian-senior-coker-commits-to-rhodes-college-football/article_ae2559ef-b307-5a9c-b2ac-d5a04d4cf06d.html | title=Greater Atlanta Christian senior Coker commits to Rhodes College football | publisher=gwinnettdailypost.com | date=December 29, 2014 | accessdate=16 August 2024}} He was the state wrestling champion in 2015.{{cite web | url=https://rhodeslynx.com/sports/football/roster/dj-coker/5983 | title=DJ Coker | publisher=rhodeslynx.com | accessdate=16 August 2024}}
College career
Coker played college football for the Rhodes Lynx from 2015 to 2018.{{cite web | url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/i-never-take-it-for-granted-stamps-josh-coker-loving-every-moment-on-the-football-field-1.6940781 | title='I never take it for granted': Stamps' Josh Coker loving every moment on the football field | publisher=ctvnews.ca | accessdate=16 August 2024}} In 2017, he earned first team All-Southern Athletic Association (SAA) and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) second team All-American honors. In 2018, he was named first team All-SAA and AFCA first team All-American.{{cite web | url=https://news.rhodes.edu/stories/dj-coker-19-named-afca-all-american-second-year-row | title=DJ Coker ’19 Named AFCA All-American for Second Year in a Row | publisher=rhodes.edu | date=December 10, 2018 | accessdate=16 August 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/2018/12/16/sunday-sports-brunch-dj-coker-memphis/2283572002/ | title=Sunday Sports Brunch: DJ Coker goes back-to-back on All-American list | publisher=commercialappeal.com | date=December 16, 2018 | accessdate=16 August 2024 | author=Van Tuyl, Chris}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1 3/5
| weight = 310
| dash = 5.15
| ten split = 1.79
| twenty split = 2.95
| shuttle = 4.45
| cone drill = 7.38
| vertical = 27.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 1
| bench = 25
| arm span = 33 5/8
| hand span = 8 3/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2019 NFL Draft Scout DJ Coker College Football Profile |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1028946&DraftYear=2019 |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Houston Texans=
After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, Coker signed with the Houston Texans on May 10, 2019.{{cite web | url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/2019/04/28/houston-texans-rhodes-all-american-lineman-d-j-coker-signs-free-agent-deal/3610430002/ | title=Houston Texans: Rhodes College All-American lineman signs as undrafted free agent | publisher=commercialappeal.com | date=April 28, 2019 | accessdate=16 August 2024 | author=Munz, Jasom}}{{cite web | url=https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/gac-grad-d-j-coker-signed-by-the-houston-texans/article_f87f4c30-6a1f-11e9-85d7-9fc2db2f0e4c.html | title=GAC grad D.J. Coker signed by the Houston Texans | publisher=gwinnettdailypost.com | date=April 28, 2019 | accessdate=16 August 2024}} He was waived on August 7, 2019.
=Calgary Stampeders=
Coker signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on February 7, 2020. After the 2020 CFL season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he opted out of his contract on August 31, 2020. He re-signed with the Stampeders on January 6, 2021. He was released on July 21, re-signed on September 26, moved to the practice roster on September 30, and released from the practice roster on November 29. Coker did not dress in any games for the Stampeders during the 2021 season. He then signed a futures contract with the Stampeders on November 30, 2021.
During the 2022 season, Coker was moved between the practice roster, active roster, and injured reserve several times.{{cite web | url=https://www.footballdb.com/players/dj-coker-cokerdj01/transactions | title=D.J. Coker | publisher=Footballdb.com | accessdate=16 August 2024}} Overall, he dressed in two games that season.{{cite web | url=https://www.footballdb.com/players/dj-coker-cokerdj01 | title=D.J. Coker | publisher=Footballdb.com | accessdate=16 August 2024}} He dressed in 12 games, starting 11, in 2023, and was placed on injured reserve twice.
Coker re-signed with the Stampeders on December 6, 2023.{{cite web | url=https://3downnation.com/2023/12/06/calgary-stampeders-re-sign-offensive-lineman-joshua-coker/ | title=Calgary Stampeders re-sign offensive lineman Joshua Coker | publisher=3downnation.com | date=December 6, 2023 | accessdate=16 August 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/cfl/fannation/news/calgary-stampeders-joshua-coker-two-year-contract-free-agency | title=Calgary Stampeders Lock Up Offensive Lineman on Two-Year Contract | publisher=si.com | date=December 7, 2023 | accessdate=16 August 2024 | author=Miller, Anthony}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Calgary Stampeders roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coker, D. J.}}
Category:American football offensive linemen
Category:Canadian football offensive linemen
Category:Greater Atlanta Christian School alumni
Category:Rhodes Lynx football players
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Calgary Stampeders players