Former Alabama and current Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Nico Johnson visited Alabama during the winter and talked to Barnett, who told him that he had been meeting with Kiffin every day to watch film and go over Alabama's playbook and concepts.
Most recently, Barnett was meeting with graduate assistant Alex Mortensen, a former college quarterback, 3-4 days per week leading into spring practice, Lance Barnett said.
Barnett went through his first practice with Alabama last Friday.
"Today's really the first day we've seen him play quarterback," Saban said after the practice. "We saw him in the offseason program. He's done a great job. He's got great leadership qualities. He's a great person. I'm sure as all the freshmen -- we have eight new ones out there, seven freshmen and a transfer -- they've all got a lot to learn. ...
"He certainly is a guy that comes here with high accolades, but I think that's one of the most dangerous things that can happen to these guys right now. There's such an expectation created for what they're going to do when they get here that everybody loses focus on the process of what it takes to be a complete player, to be a good player, and the time that it takes to develop.
"We've got a lot of patience in trying to develop our players. How fast he develops can be kind of how fast he can get the uptake and go out there and execute and do the job that I know he wants to do and we'd like for him to do." ...
Good summary of Blake's career path
thus far...
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