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Hope he stays, but I agree on the issue of keeping him, BET. For a lot of reasons, it's just hard to pull a top prospect from that far away.Wow, very big news here, and very refreshing for Alabama fans. To be sure, this is a far better talent than I ever expected us to land at QB in 2015 with Coker, Bateman, and Cornwell on campus. This kid has all of the physical tools, and he is by no means a long-term developmental project that we are taking a flyer on (like, for example, Fanuzzi, Ely, McLeod, etc.). Very big pick-up here.
Real question: Can we keep him? Barnett plans to enroll early, but even so that still means we have to hang onto him for another 6+ months, and it a verbal commitment certainly doesn't change the fact that 2,000 miles still separates Corona and Tuscaloosa. The previous de-commitment from Notre Dame a few weeks ago also gives pause for concern. At the very least, expect that the staff will continue to recruit him non-stop, verbal commitment to us or no.
I think Cornwell is going to be the guy BB is going to have to surpass for the starting job.Actually I could see him earning a shot early on, Bateman has not panned out like most thought (and myself) and after Coker is gone he would be a RS-F in an open QB battle more than likely so it's not like he will be sitting for 3 years with no shot. By then I'd imagine Bateman would be in the Alec Morris boat if he doesn't improve.
I have no doubt in that, I lumped him in the "QB battle" category. I was just pointing out that Barnett wont be an after thought for most of his career, that he would have a shot earlier than most think.I think Cornwell is going to be the guy BB is going to have to surpass for the starting job.
Had you said that six months ago I would have certainly agreed with you, but in fairness to Bateman he had a pretty strong spring and made a lot of progress. He still has a ways to go, of course, but with the progress he made this spring I think he still has to be considered a real contender in 2016 and beyond.Actually I could see him earning a shot early on, Bateman has not panned out like most thought (and myself) ...
Blake Barnett runs a spread, no-huddle offense at Santiago High School in Corona, Calif., but he's well-prepared for Alabama's pro-style attack.
Barnett committed to Alabama on Wednesday over several national programs, including his No. 2 choice of Oregon. The sky is the limit for the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Barnett, his high school head coach said.
"When you look at some of the athletes that have transitioned from one to the other, from the passing game I think he's ahead of a lot of other guys," Santiago High School head coach Jeff Steinberg told AL.com shortly after Barnett committed to Alabama. "You've got to have an understanding of what he's seeing in front of him in terms of fronts and coverages. I think he's a little ahead in terms of understanding defenses, which would help any kid no matter what kind of offense they came from."