After last season, no Bama fan should complain about a quarterback transferring just because he couldn't beat out someone else for the starting spot.Agree, sip, right or wrong it is the new reality and none of our fans should be surprised if it happens.
I don't see Barnett leaving after this year. If he does, he'll have to sit out a year. If he is able to graduate in three years, he can be a grad transfer and play the following season. But he'll have 2017 to learn under Sarkisian after he becomes OC plus have some actual game experience.
If he were asking me for advice, I'd tell him to stick around and see what happens and have his degree in hand after the 2017 season.