Alabama freshman quarterback Blake Barnett is working with the most successful (and probably most expensive) private quarterback coach in the country, AL.com reported.
Barnett, a five-star signee and a native of Corona, Calif., started visiting George Whitfield Jr. early in May.
Whitfield’s San Diego-based business has worked with a Who’s Who of college and NFL quarterbacks in recent years, including Johnny Manziel, Jameis Winston, Andrew Luck and Cam Newton.
Barnett since has returned to Alabama for the start of summer classes. But the so-called “quarterback whisperer” will make several trips to the Yellowhammer State to work with Winston before the start of NFL training camp, and will double up by working out Barnett on those trips, AL.com reported.
Not every just-graduated high school senior can afford Whitfield’s services. But it’s a positive development for Alabama. Though Barnett is likely to redshirt in 2015, working with Whitfield this early in his college career should jump-start his footwork and technique.
Considering Barnett’s natural physical ability, and the 1-on-1 instruction from Whitfield, it won’t be surprising to see Barnett make a serious push for the starting quarterback job in 2016.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
