Is Alabama or Auburn Better Fit for 4-Star QB Woody Barrett?
Florida quarterback Ervin "Woody" Barrett is focused on two out-of-state favorites in a frenzied recruitment.
The 6'2", 213-pound playmaker named Auburn and Alabama his co-leaders, as per Ryan Bartow of 247Sports. He provided the update this past weekend while competing at a regional Nike camp in Orlando.
Visits to both campuses are set for the second weekend of March, when he'll watch each team take part in spring practice.
Barrett, rated seventh nationally among dual-threat quarterbacks in 247Sports' composite rankings, holds nearly 20 scholarships just months before the conclusion of his junior year. The list includes Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee.
He named Auburn his leader in mid-February, but a recent offer from Alabama immediately altered that outlook. Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide extended a scholarship on Feb. 26, landing in Barrett's top two just days later.
"That's big," Barrett told Bartow. "I was like 'wow.' It made me feel great. They don't offer too many people. You have to be special to get that offer."
Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin personally presented the offer to Barrett, who attends West Orange High School near Orlando.
"Coach Kiffin said he's looking forward to recruiting me," Barrett said. "He told me how they train their QBs and told me about Blake Sims. He said how each quarterback has a different style and how I'd have a place there."
Alabama has undergone a noticeable shift in how it evaluates potential quarterback options since Kiffin's arrival.
Title-winning passers AJ McCarron and Greg McElroy combined for a total of five rushing touchdowns from 2009-2013. Sims scored seven times on the ground last season, Kiffin's first on the Crimson Tide sidelines.
Blake Barnett, a 5-star 2015 signee, offers even more mobility at the position. Though he stands 6'4.5", the California product displays above-average speed in the open field and accounted for 1,174 rushing yards as a high school upperclassman.
"Coach Kiffin and Coach Saban were very fond about the idea of their quarterback being able to run the ball several times in each game," Barnett told Bleacher Report. "It's something they were looking for and it made sense as a fit for me."
It may also make sense for Barrett, who is more dynamic as a rusher than any quarterback on the current Crimson Tide roster. Some teams have offered him as an "athlete" due to his speed and hip fluidity, but quality arm strength should sustain his role under center for years to come.
"He’s an unbelievable talent," West Orange coach Bob Head told Jamie Newberg of Scout.com. "Woody has a rocket arm and can run. I mean he is a freak kid that can throw the ball a million times and never have a dead arm. And he can run like the wind."
Auburn has enjoyed immense success with quarterbacks who fit that description. Dual-threat weapons Cam Newton and Nick Marshall both led the Tigers to national championship games with Gus Malzahn calling the plays.
Malzahn put his program in the mix for Barrett much earlier in the recruiting process. Barrett received an offer from the Tigers as a sophomore and has an established understanding of how he fits within the scheme.
"I feel like I’m a dual threat, which is just like Nick Marshall,” Barrett told Keith Niebuhr of 247Sports. “The things Nick Marshall can do, I could probably do better. That’s how I feel."
Auburn landed 4-star Georgia quarterback Tyler Queen in the 2015 cycle. Malzahn also attempted to make a late run at compelling dual-threat talent Torrance Gibson before he signed with Ohio State.
Barrett, who earned second-team All-Central Florida honors as a junior, must consider the depth-chart situation at both SEC powerhouses before arriving at a decision. The presence of Barnett—a national Elite 11 champion who has the makings of a multi-year starter—appears to present more of an obstacle than Barrett may encounter at Auburn.
While we're waiting to see how Kiffin continues to reshape Alabama's offense, the Tigers system is well established when it comes to getting the most out of quarterbacks who can do damage with their legs.
For now, we'll give a slight edge to Auburn in a recruiting battle that may last through next season. Both programs have their sights set on other prospects at the position in this cycle—most notably versatile Georgia talent Jawon Pass—but Barrett is clearly a prospect worth monitoring as we move ahead.
Recruit ratings and stats courtesy of 247Sports.
