'15 CA QB Blake Barnett (Arizona State Transfer)

[ResLife Hero]

This probably didn't hurt their chances:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/philsteele042">@Philsteele042</a> All-America team
1st Team QB: Marcus Mariota <a href="http://t.co/hrfMwuj8zZ">http://t.co/hrfMwuj8zZ</a></p>— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNCFB/statuses/474949608196820992">June 6, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[connor_in]

Haven't seen it, but i bet I can nail it on the head...........

Committed too early.
Oregon dream school.
Always was a Duck fan.
Felt like this is the best place for me.
Appreciate the opportunity BK and ND provided me.


Did I miss anything?

Not fair...you just copied and pasted the checklist off of decommitspeeches.org

 

[CurtisCandy]

Haven't seen it, but i bet I can nail it on the head...........

Committed too early.
Oregon dream school.
Always was a Duck fan.
Felt like this is the best place for me.
Appreciate the opportunity BK and ND provided me.


Did I miss anything?

I've been thinking about subscribing to one or two of the services, and now that one of them is definitely out, the decision got much easier. I subscribed to II, watched the video, and you're just about dead-on with your analogy!

The usual, politically correct junk commonly regurgitated in these situations. Didn't come right out and say that Oregon was his dream school, but a very minimal amount of reading between the lines makes it obvious.

Just STRICTLY my personal opinion, but I'm kinda with others who feel that Malik's spring may have something (a lot) to do with his departure, among the other factors mentioned.

I'm thinking he quite possibly "doesn't have the chest" to be ND's quarterback.

 

[ResLife Hero]

I've been thinking about subscribing to one or two of the services, and now that one of them is definitely out, the decision got much easier. I subscribed to II, watched the video, and you're just about dead-on with your analogy!

The usual, politically correct junk commonly regurgitated in these situations. Didn't come right out and say that Oregon was his dream school, but a very minimal amount of reading between the lines makes it obvious.

Just STRICTLY my personal opinion, but I'm kinda with others who feel that Malik's spring may have something (a lot) to do with his departure, among the other factors mentioned.

I'm thinking he quite possibly "doesn't have the chest" to be ND's quarterback.

It likely gave him pause, but UO having 2 of their QBs transfer out probably amplified their ability to spin that against us in a big way.

 

[NDBoiler]

I think Blake saw the spring game and realized that beating out Malik for the starting job in 2016 won't be easy and decided to go somewhere that the depth chart looks a lot better for his chances to actually start in 2015. Mariotta has 1 year left so unless Oregon has a stud waiting to take over in '15 then Blake likely will be a freshman starter. He wouldn't have had that opportunity at ND. No way he would beat out 2 year senior starter in Golson and if Malik gets a lot of PT the next 2 years then he probably wouldn't beat out Malik, either so then he is looking at having to wait another 2 years for Malik's eligibility to run out before he gets his shot. Honestly, I don't blame him for wanting to go to a school where he has a great shot of being the man right away. Even if he's not scared to compete, I just don't see a freshman (no matter how good he is) beating out Golson in 2015. Or Malik if he ends up winning the job in August.

Good points, and at least this is happening in June as opposed to November. The more I think about it, the less concerned I am. If we had this caliber of player decommit at any other position besides QB or OL, I'd feel like it was a much bigger loss.

 

[kmoose]

I think Blake saw the spring game and realized that beating out Malik for the starting job in 2016 won't be easy and decided to go somewhere that the depth chart looks a lot better for his chances to actually start in 2015. Mariotta has 1 year left so unless Oregon has a stud waiting to take over in '15 then Blake likely will be a freshman starter. He wouldn't have had that opportunity at ND. No way he would beat out 2 year senior starter in Golson and if Malik gets a lot of PT the next 2 years then he probably wouldn't beat out Malik, either so then he is looking at having to wait another 2 years for Malik's eligibility to run out before he gets his shot. Honestly, I don't blame him for wanting to go to a school where he has a great shot of being the man right away. Even if he's not scared to compete, I just don't see a freshman (no matter how good he is) beating out Golson in 2015. Or Malik if he ends up winning the job in August.

I don't think so. Not that your premise is not well thought out, but I just think you are missing the one key ingredient: confidence! The top guys, like Barnett, have enough confidence that they think they are going to start, unless Joe Montana himself is the incumbent. My own personal belief is that the obvious answer is the most likely one:* A top recruit has been committed to the most storied program in college football history, and then suddenly decides to go to a school that is known for recruiting shenanigans. I don't have to be a rocket scientist, to surmise that Barnett has probably been promised a whole boatload of impermissible benefits. Maybe not cash, but most probably enough "academic support" that he can just focus on getting ready for the NFL, without all of those distractions, like homework, papers, and tests. Most probably he knows that he will be able to drive a nice car, and drive it as fast as he wants, while hitting on a blunt. (See Cliff Harris) Oregon has been dirty for quite some time. And those that think it was Chip Kelly, and now they are clean? Who do you think hired the then assistants who are now running the program? Kelly did. And do you think he hired a bunch of straight arrows, who would immediately know what was happening at UO? Or would it make sense that he would hire guys whose character was such that they would not make waves about it?

 

[md_bennett]

I honestly think it is somewhere in the middle. Do I think that there have been some recruiting violations lead by Hopkins? Yes. Do I think that our depth chart had something to do with it? Yes. But 5 days ago we were moonstuck over this kid. The only thing that changed is that he decided he didn't want what ND was offering. I would have loved to see him in South Bend, and I refuse to say that he doesn't have the chest for it. It sucks, but there isn't anything else to be said about it. Let's move on and quit making this a personal attack on our fandom by a high school kid who isn't even a senior yet.

 

[Voltaire]

The dude's also obsessed with Nike gear. Can't get more free top of the line Nike ish than at Oregon.

Custom Nike belly shirts for days...

 

[ResLife Hero]

The dude's also obsessed with Nike gear. Can't get more free top of the line Nike ish than at Oregon.

Custom Nike belly shirts for days...

Can't wait until Orgeon tries that as their uniform for a game.

 

[Irish#1]

It likely gave him pause, but UO having 2 of their QBs transfer out probably amplified their ability to spin that against us in a big way.

I think this was Oregon's big selling point. Get on the field much earlier.

Although, I'd like to think he doesn't have the chest and Malik scares the crap out of him. lol

 

[irishknight35]

Now that this ship has sailed I can say I wasn't a fan of Blake from the start for one reason: He looks like the off-spring of Eddie Martel!

The QB that is replaced by Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves) in The Replacements! DO NOT WANT!

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Tillery still messing with Blake. I can't embed, but you can see in this ND Instagram picture that Jerry tags Blake so he can see it.
Instagram

 

[Bluto]

You guys have way too much time on your hands.

 

[vmgsf]

What I like about this unpleasant situation - Kelly made sure Notre Dame will not be jerked around. Barnett publicly states Notre Dame is out. Barnett is NOT ever coming to Notre Dame. So Oregon Ducks - no drama - no excitement - no buzz.

 

[TheChosen1]

Interesting to hear in the II analysis that depth chart also played a factor in his decision. That after a starter wasn't named after the blue gold game blake realized the competiton was close. He'd have a quicker path to the field if he went to Oregon.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Interesting to hear in the II analysis that depth chart also played a factor in his decision. That after a starter wasn't named after the blue gold game blake realized the competiton was close. He'd have a quicker path to the field if he went to Oregon.

He's using that as a getaway excuse.
Trying to rationalize his decision.

 

[NDBoiler]

What I like about this unpleasant situation - Kelly made sure Notre Dame will not be jerked around. Barnett publicly states Notre Dame is out. Barnett is NOT ever coming to Notre Dame. So Oregon Ducks - no drama - no excitement - no buzz.

Why not simply stop being a drama queen - Blake Barnett - and say you are going to Oregon? Did Hopkins order you not to, so you can have maximum drama queen and Duck value when your SHOCKING announcement is made?

Seriously, get over it man. Is a 17 year old's college decision riling you up this much that you feel the need to attack him personally?

 

[irishandy]

Oregon is the better choice for him if he wants early PT. I expect Golson, Zaire, and Kizer to be on the roster in 2015. I wish he would commit to Oregon already and we can move on...

 

[Irish#1]

Oregon is the better choice for him if he wants early PT. I expect Golson, Zaire, and Kizer to be on the roster in 2015. I wish he would commit to Oregon already and we can move on...

No rule says you have to wait on his commitment to move on. Come on over and join the group.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Interesting to hear in the II analysis that depth chart also played a factor in his decision. That after a starter wasn't named after the blue gold game blake realized the competiton was close. He'd have a quicker path to the field if he went to Oregon.

sounds like some more work by Oregon's staff to flip to me...he couldn't have been that naive to our QB situation when he committed.

 

[enrico514]

sounds like some more work by Oregon's staff to flip to me...he couldn't have been that naive to our QB situation when he committed.

Doubt any recruit is that stupid not to understand who his competition will be...

 

[ThePiombino]

What I like about this unpleasant situation - Kelly made sure Notre Dame will not be jerked around. Barnett publicly states Notre Dame is out. Barnett is NOT ever coming to Notre Dame. So Oregon Ducks - no drama - no excitement - no buzz.

Why not simply stop being a drama queen - Blake Barnett - and say you are going to Oregon? Did Hopkins order you not to, so you can have maximum drama queen and Duck value when your SHOCKING announcement is made?

This post reeks of weaksauce.

Interesting to hear in the II analysis that depth chart also played a factor in his decision. That after a starter wasn't named after the blue gold game blake realized the competiton was close. He'd have a quicker path to the field if he went to Oregon.

I don't buy it.

Doubt any recruit is that stupid not to understand who his competition will be...

^ This right here. You can't tell me BB had no idea who was on the roster when he committed. There literally have been no changes since then.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Personally, if a recruit is worried about the depth chart, then I don't really want them. Not saying they shouldn't look at it to size up their competition, but if they use that as a reason for not committing, then their competitive fire comes in to question. Earn it on the practice field.

 

[ResLife Hero]

This post reeks of weaksauce.



I don't buy it.



^ This right here. You can't tell me BB had no idea who was on the roster when he committed. There literally have been no changes since then.

The one thing that a few people have pointed out about Oregon's depth is that it changed dramatically after his commitment. Mariota stayed, and 2 guys behind him bailed. It went from being an open race full of able bodies to an empty stable. He should be able to walk in, get fitted and run the first team when he gets on campus.

 

[irishandy]

He is starting to remind me of Gunner Kiel, I think Gunner expected to play right away at ND and not compete. If Blake expects to start from day 1, not compete and get better or make his teammates better then good luck at Oregon.

 

[rtrn2glory]

yea if we're excited about any recruit coming in to ND from day one and starting....we should be very worried about the position that he is playing.

case and point: nyles morgan

 

[IrishBlood81]

No rule says you have to wait on his commitment to move on. Come on over and join the group.

Think he's afraid of an NCAA Infraction and the following sanctions...

 

[Buster Bluth]

yea if we're excited about any recruit coming in to ND from day one and starting....we should be very worried about the position that he is playing.

case and point: nyles morgan

And yet Jaylon Smith was being called on to start by many, despite Councell and Spond being quality LBs ahead of him at DOG.

 

[T Town Tommy]

And yet Jaylon Smith was being called on to start by many, despite Councell and Spond being quality LBs ahead of him at DOG.

If Morgan is anything close to Smith as a freshman, then the Irish should be very pleased. The learning curve is going to be high if Morgan plays on the inside however.

 

[IrishLax]

If Morgan is anything close to Smith as a freshman, then the Irish should be very pleased. The learning curve is going to be high if Morgan plays on the inside however.

IMO, the three worst positions for a true frosh starter are:
1. QB
2. OL
3. 4-3 MIKE

All of them require significant development for a young player to be effective, and all three are positions where "mistakes" can get you killed.