re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Blake Barnett’s year has been interesting, to say the least. He began the New Year fresh off of a late November commitment to Notre Dame. Then, when Alabama QB commitment Ricky Town reversed course and dropped the ‘Tide for Southern Cal, ‘Bama went on a national search for a top-flight QB who could fill that spot in the 2015 class. Barnett was offered a scholarship in February, dropped the Fighting Irish in early June, and committed to the Crimson Tide two weeks later. Since then, he’s seen his stock rise in the recruiting rankings–exponentially. He’s now a five-star prospect and rated the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation, according to the 247Sports composite ranking. As a junior at Santiago High School in Corona (Calif.), Barnett threw for 2,322 yards and 22 TDs, while rushing for 695 yards and 13 scores.

This week, Barnett–who was named the Elite 11 QB camp MVP earlier this month–talked about a little bit of everything in a conversation with Saturday Down South’s Brian McLaughlin.



SDS’ MCLAUGHLIN: Blake, let’s get away from the “meat market” side of recruiting for at least one question. What would you like college fans to know about you that has absolutely nothing to do with football?

BARNETT: “I’m pretty outgoing I would say. I like to have fun with my friends and I like the beach. I’m pretty well-mannered, I would say. But realistically, my life does revolve around football and I think it’s probably that way for just about every recruit. It’s hard to get away from it when it’s what we live for every single day. It’s a big part of who I am.”

SDS’ MCLAUGHLIN: Let me ask you this … when you walk around in California, does anybody recognize you? I mean, a five-star QB heading to Alabama may turn some heads in the south. Does that ever happen in your home state, now that you’ve already been on national television and all?

BARNETT: “In California, it’s a lot different. I can walk around in an Alabama shirt and maybe only person will even say anything. The interest is just not as common as in the south. Their college football is different than ours here. I mean, people love college football here too, but not as many people care as much as they do. We don’t have as many diehards like the people in the south. It’s nice to go to a school that is a powerhouse now and they were a powerhouse almost 100 years ago too. It’s pretty cool to live on with that legacy.”

SDS’ MCLAUGHLIN: Speaking of diehards in the south, let’s talk a little Alabama history and tradition. You were committed to one program (Notre Dame) steeped in tradition, and now you’re heading to another one (Bama). How much do you know about Bear Bryant and the history of Alabama football in general? I mean, I know it’s a bit of a trick question since you just committed, but what do you know about the tradition there?

BARNETT: “I know Bear Bryant had a great track record at Alabama, because when you are there you can tell everybody loves him. I’m definitely always open to learning new things and when I head there in January, I want to learn everything about it. I want to learn all the ins and outs about (Alabama history).”

SDS’ MCLAUGHLIN: One thing that could happen while you’re at Alabama, should the program go on a “tear” when you get there, is you could help Coach Saban either tie or pass the Bear’s national record for titles (6 to Saban’s 4). What would that be like if it happened?

BARNETT: “That would be awesome. Obviously celebrating a national championship would be incredible, but with a coach who has done it before–it would be humbling to do that with a coach who has taken in all of those other championships, too.”

SDS’ MCLAUGHLIN: Switching gears to some SEC talk. You know, quarterback recruits have told me before that they’re prepared to take a statistical hit, to a certain extent, because they’re coming to the SEC and will play against some tough defenses. Has that entered your mind, that piling up the numbers might be tough to do?

BARNETT: “It could take a little bit of a hit. Obviously you’re playing against some of the top defenses in the country. Plus at Alabama you may not pass it a whole lot in the first half and then in a lot of games in the second half they’re up on the other team to the point where they don’t need to pass as much. And that’s where the term ‘game manager’ comes in. The defenses in the SEC are the best in the nation, and to go against them every week will be very challenging, but hopefully it’ll be rewarding in the long term.”

SDS’ MCLAUGHLIN: OK, you brought up the whole ‘Game Manager’ thing that A.J. McCarron and Greg McElroy always heard. What do you think of that description and would you be fine with it should you become the starter at ‘Bama?

BARNETT: “In my opinion, it is somewhat of a compliment. I think it is a quarterback’s job to manage a game. Why would it be negative if you’re up a bunch of points and you’re handing the ball off to some really good backs? Managing means controlling the game and that the game is in your hands to manage. That’s a good place to be, in my opinion.”

SDS’ MCLAUGHLIN: Switching gears again … this spring was kind of crazy for you, what with Alabama coming on strong and having to weigh your options with Notre Dame and even with Oregon. Can you take us through how everything happened?

BARNETT: “It all kind of started when I decided to take a trip down there, and it was supposed to be just a day and a half trip. But then it led to a four-day trip and I fell in love with the campus and coaches and everything at the college itself. I just took a little time off to think about it and then made a decision. Coach (Lane) Kiffin had a lot to do with it (since coming from Southern Cal, where they had known each other). It wasn’t the overall decision maker, but it helped. I think it would be awesome to play in his offense. He had a lot of great quarterbacks under him at USC who are in the league now.”

SDS’ MCLAUGHLIN: Last question Blake … when you did visit Tuscaloosa, what stood out the most–aside from football?

BARNETT: “Oh, the barbecue is awesome. We don’t have barbecue like that here. We have Mexican food, and it’s really, really good here, but we don’t have barbecue like that. It’s just a lot different there. Everyone here tries to mimmick the barbecue down there, but it doesn’t compare. The brisket was just really good, I’m not going to lie. That was my favorite … It just seems like everyone is really welcoming and friendly out there. Obviously I was a recruit, but people were nice to my parents and overall it was just a really welcoming kind of feeling. It’s a big factor to me that my family can come down there and be treated nicely.”

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