The story of Alabama’s offseason in 2014 was the quarterback battle between Blake Sims and Jake Coker, and with the arrival of early enrollee quarterback Blake Barnett, 2015 may be another season of quarterback competition.
Graduating early from Santiago High School in Corona, Calif., the five-star Barnett enrolled at Alabama ranked as the No. 1 pocket passer on ESPN, the No. 2 pocket passer on 247Sports, and the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback on Rivals. He’s the highest ranked quarterback Alabama has ever signed out of high school, per Rivals, and he is the distinct opposite of the stereotypical Alabama game-manager quarterback — with better hair.
Going into 2015, the Alabama quarterback depth chart is decently crowded with quarterbacks Cooper Bateman, David Cornwell and Alec Morris joining Coker and Barnett in the race for the top slot.
Coker is returning for his second season after transferring from Florida State, and he will most likely start the A-Day Spring game on April 18, but the 6-foot-5 freshman from California may be Coker’s primary competition during fall camp.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban has never started a true freshman at quarterback in his tenure at the school, but he’s not opposed to the idea.
“I wouldn’t rule that out at all,” Saban said. “If the guy’s the best player, we’re going to play him. Just like Julio Jones was the best player when he was a wide receiver as a freshman and we played him, or Amari Cooper was or Trent Richardson was.
“If the guy’s ready to play and he’s the best player that means he’s done something to deserve the right to play.”
Though he was labeled by some recruiting services as a dual-threat quarterback, Barnett considers himself a pocket-passer with the ability to extend the play, and estimates that he can throw the ball 65 to 70 yards. He doesn’t want to be categorized as a running quarterback necessarily, but his mobility and size can be an asset when facing opposing defenses.
Barnett had 3,404 passing yards and 23 touchdown passes during his senior season at Santiago, while running for 479 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He has the ability to seriously threaten defenses with his arm or his legs, and watching him dismantle individual high schools — like his six total touchdowns against Corona High School in October — makes him look like a taller Sims manhandling Texas A&M.
While Barnett got his lone media appearance — barring the bowl game media day — out of the way on National Signing Day, he is already polished with the media and has his cliches and Sabanspeak down. He talked about certain players and recruits having a “good head on their shoulders” and a “strong work ethic,” while still exuding the confidence of someone who doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. The media policy regarding freshmen at Alabama mirrors that of the assistant coaches, but Barnett giving interviews won’t worry the administration with the risk of a racy response.
For example, he had a very measured response to the question concerning the starting quarterback slot.
“My main goal is to compete for a spot, but right now that’s a big picture thing,” Barnett said. “The small picture I’m focusing on right now is to get the playbook down and take it step by step. I think that’s a while away from here so I don’t want to say anything or make any statements right now.”
During this offseason and the beginning of Spring practice, Barnett plans to spend time with the other quarterbacks and graduate assistant Alex Mortensen trying to learn the playbook and adjusting to the offensive system run at Alabama. The biggest differences for him initially are the terminology of the offense and the expanded and more complex responsibilities he must take on at the line of scrimmage. But Barnett appears to be well suited for the faster, more versatile Alabama offense that was put in place last year.
If he gets the chance to become the first true freshman to ever start at Alabama under Saban, the additional time he will have been able to spend under Kiffin’s tutelage as an early enrollee will no doubt prove invaluable.
But, if you ask him, that’s not his concern right now.
“I’m focused on getting down with the playbook, getting stronger and preparing myself for the season as much as possible,” Barnett said. “The depth chart is something that I’m not completely worried about right now. I want to improve myself and my game as much as I can. Obviously, coming from high school to here is a big change, so I’m going to try to get in transition as best as possible and get familiar with the coaches and my teammates.”
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