At Alabama it’s business as usual. Another year brings another offseason quarterback derby to Tuscaloosa with no end in sight as the summer continues to rage on. Of course the Crimson Tide’s roster is full of talented players competing to be named the starting quarterback, according to one of Blake Barnett’s high school coaches, the answer should be clear for head coach Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.

Ryan Maine, one of Barnett’s assistant coaches at Santiago High School, recently spoke with The Gary Harris Show of Tide 99.1 FM and recalled the amazing physical achievements the former five-star recruit would typically display during his prep career.

“When we used to warm up, I chose to try to not to warm up with him,” Maine said. “He flings the ball, and I remember when I first met him, at the end of practice, we always tried to hit the crossbar on the goalpost. So I walked to the 30-yard line and throw it … and he’s back at the 50-yard line throwing a 60-yard throw and nailing the crossbar. That’s when I was like, ‘Holy cow, this kid is special.’”

Thanks to his appearance and noted arm talent, many assume Barnett is a strict pocket-passer style quarterback but he once categorized as a dual-threat quarterback by the recruiting services. His ability to run was something that also caught the attention of Maine during his time coaching him. Although Barnett’s scrambling helped the offense in more ways than one, as the quarterback would often bait the defense with his legs before hitting them deep.

“Blake is very physically gifted with running the ball, as well,” Maine said. “There were teams that would come up and try to stop him from running, and some of the greatest balls I’ve seen Blake throw is those deep balls where we’re throwing posts over the safety’s head. Just the touch that he has and the tight spiral, that’s something that I really enjoy watching Blake do.”

Judging by Maine’s recollection, the Tide have a big time player currently fighting for the right to hit the field with the first-string offense. Now it’s up to Barnett to earn that role before the season arrives.