James Madison star Alonza Barnett III, a playoff-tested dual-threat, ignites UCF's offense despite questionable rankings. Can he silence doubters?
Alonza Barnett III is yet to take a throw in spring practice, but the excitement and stability he has brought to the building has been echoed by head coach Scott Frost throughout the season.
Despite leading James Madison to the College Football Playoff last season, Barnett is still seen as a bottom-half power 4 quarterback - at least according to CBS Sports.
On April 8, CBS Sports' Brad Crawford ranked Barnett the No. 40 gunslinger, coming in at No. 10 in the Big 12.
"Scott Frost plucked the former James Madison star from the portal this cycle to try and bring some energy back to his offense under center. Barnett was a two-year starter for the Dukes after originally signing with JMU as a key recruiting find by Curt Cignetti," Crawford wrote. "He threw 26 touchdown passes as a redshirt sophomore before finishing with 23 during his junior campaign last fall."
While Barnett is yet to take a snap at the power 4 level, he brings a winning pedigree and dual-threat ability that precedes many of the QBs ranked before him.
After making the playoff, James Madison scored 34 points on an Oregon defense that shutout the Big 12 champion Texas Tech Red Raiders in the following round.
Despite the loss, Barnett spearheaded the offensive charge, finishing with 273 yards passing, 45 yards rushing and three total touchdowns.
Offensive coordinator Steve Cooper had strong praise for Barnett, calling him a true "pro."
"Winning, you know, that's that's that's a big one," Cooper said. "His accuracy on deep balls. His athleticism, his intelligence, obviously you can see that on film and then when you get to know him, you really find out, okay, this guy's for real in relationship to how he handles his business. I think the best way to explain who he is is he's a pro. And listen, he's still learning our system. He hasn't been here that long. So, you know, he's taking the install in just like all the other guys every single day. So, yeah. But, you know, I think those are the main things that pop, the obvious."
Barnett instantly provides Frost with an experienced winner at the collegiate level, while fitting the archetype for Cooper's offense, projecting a big senior season for the former Duke.
Despite his low rankings and slow start to spring practice, Barnett will provide stability to a UCF team that has struggled to find consistent QB play over the past few seasons.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!