Sep 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Blake Barnett (8) throws during the second half against the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium. Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
If Blake Barnett is transferring from Alabama, head coach Nick Saban is in the dark on that decision.
“You may know more about it than I do,” Saban said.
Barnett, according to AL.com, plans to transfer, which would make the second-stringer the fourth quarter to leave Tuscaloosa.
“Blake is a fine young man, he’s done a good job in this program,” Saban said. “We’d love to see him be a part of this program in the future. But we also want him to do what’s best for him.”
Saban said Barnett visited him before Wednesday’s practice “with some concerns about his future.”
A redshirt freshman, Barnett started the season-opening win over Southern California but the former five-star recruit was benched for Jalen Hurts. Hurts, a true freshman, has eight touchdowns (three rushing) and one interception with three starts for No. 1-ranked Alabama.
Cooper Bateman, a junior, would be the Crimson Tide’s backup quarterback.
Barnett would join a quarterback exodus from Alabama under Saban that includes Parker McLeod, Luke Del Rio and Alec Morris. Barnett is from Corona, Calif., and was an Elite 11 camp finalist recruited primarily by current Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.
Barnett drew a blue-blood crowd on the recruiting trail, including Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA, Cal, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arizona and Duke.
