Former Alabama QB Blake Barnett to Visit Washington State This Weekend
Former Alabama starting quarterback Blake Barnett will take an official visit to Washington State this Friday, a source with knowledge of the situation told Rivals on Tuesday night.
The visit will be Barnett's second official visit with his first official visit to Oregon on Nov. 12, a 52-27 loss for the Ducks. Barnett, a former four-star prospect and the No.2 dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2015, transferred out of Tuscaloosa four games into the 2016 season after learning of a loophole within the NCAA transfer rules.
Barnett discovered that there is a way for FBS players to transfer to another university and be eligible to play one calendar year after transferring, according to Al.com citing anonymous sources.
The 23rd ranked Cougars currently have redshirt junior Luke Falk as the teams starting quarterback, who already refuted reports earlier in the season that he was considering declaring for the 2017 NFL Draft.
Barnett began the season as a redshirt freshman and, according the loophole, would be eligible to play as a redshirt sophomore next season for WSU coach Mike Leach. Leach's Air Raid offense would allow Barnett to use his athleticism to expand the Cougars efforts at becoming more than just a spread passing offense.
Additionally, if Falk were to declare for the draft the addition of Barnett would create a legitimate quarterback competition along with current backup Tyler Hilinski. One source told Rivals that the visit comes with legitimate interest on the part of WSU, and certainly Barnett, in an effort to improve the competition at quarterback moving forward.
Hilinski has appeared in three games for WSU this season, most notably against Arizona on Nov.5. The redshirt freshman completed 15 of 17 pass attempts for 163 yards and two touchdowns late in a 69-7 victory over the Wildcats.
With or without Falk returning for his senior season the Cougars are slated to add 2017 four-star Wilsonville (Ore.) dual-threat quarterback Connor Neville to the quarterback competition. Neville committed to WSU in April 2016 and has not wavered on his decision since.
No.23 Washington State hosts No.5 Washington this Friday at 12:30 p.m. for the 109th Apple Cup, with the winner headed to represent the North in the Pac-12 Championship Game on December 2 at Levi Stadium.