Arizona State Grad Transfer QB Blake Barnett Set To Visit USF

Former Arizona State and Alabama QB Blake Barnett is seeking a transfer from the program and much to everyone’s (well at least our) surprise, he is taking an official visit to USF this weekend according to Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman.

Barnett, who’s on pace to graduate this summer according to Doug Haller of azcentral sports, should be immediately eligible as a graduate transfer and have two years of eligibility left.

The 6-foot-5, former five-star recruit out of Santiago High School in Corona, CA was the 2014 Elite 11 MVP and the #2 Pro Style QB in the 2015 class, tallying 68 career TD’s during his high school career.

Barnett’s college journey has definitely been an interesting one. After signing with Alabama and redshirting his freshman season, Barnett opened 2016 as the Tide’s starter only to see his reps get taken by true freshman and future SEC Offensive Player of the Year Jalen Hurts.

He announced his intention to transfer shortly after to Arizona State, where a weird loophole in the transfer rules led him to be eligible in 2017.

Unable to unseat incumbent Sun Devil QB Manny Wilkins, Barnett ended the 2017 campaign as the back-up, only making five pass attempts.

The transition to new head coach Herm Edwards, and being ahead on credit hours, presumably led Barnett to seek other opportunities.

USF wrapped up Spring Practice and is currently in the middle of a quarterback battle between Brett Kean and Chris Oladokun, with signees Octavius Battle and Jordan McCloud joining the program in the fall.

Although filling the shoes of record-breaking QB1 Quinton Flowers was always going to be a tall order, it’s a bit of a surprise that Charlie Strong and Sterling Gilbert are entertaining a graduate transfer.

Or maybe he’s hitting Tampa en route to Boca Raton and his former OC.