Report: Quarterback Blake Barnett set to transfer from Arizona State

Doug Haller of AZCentral reported Arizona State quarterback Blake Barnett plans to leave Tempe once he graduates this summer, which would make him eligible to play this upcoming season.

After leaving Nick Saban and Alabama for greener pastures just a few games into the 2016 season, the former five-star and Elite 11 MVP put himself through the recruiting process for the second time — eventually announcing his ASU commitment with a birthday cake to to then-ASU head coach Todd Graham.

Like Jalen Hurts at Alabama, Barnett was never able to beat out Sun Devil quarterback Manny Wilkins for the starting spot in Tempe. He never started a game for the Maroon and Gold, throwing just five passes in two games for ASU.

Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports reported Barnett will visit the University of South Florida this weekend.

Barnett’s departure leaves the Sun Devils pretty thin under center. Junior Dillion Sterling-Cole, who split second-team reps with Barnett this spring, will now jump into the the backup quarterback role. But, behind him, ASU has just two quarterbacks on the roster in redshirt freshmen Kevin Brown and Ryan Kelley.

The Sun Devils, too, did not sign a quarterback in their 2018 class.

Depth issues under center were a far cry just two season ago. Then, Bryce Perkins left the team in June for Virginia and Brady White decided to join his former offensive coordinator Mike Norvell at Memphis in January.

Perkins has already been named the starter at the start of Virginia’s spring practice, and if White and Barnett get the nod at their respective schools, three former ASU quarterbacks could be starting at other programs.