Auburn transfer Joey Gatewood reportedly schedules visit to SEC school
By Keith Farner
Published:
A week after Auburn backup quarterback Joey Gatewood said he would transfer from Auburn, a report has come out that he’s scheduled a visit with another SEC school.
Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio reported that the former blue chip recruit would visit Kentucky this week as the Wildcats take on Tennessee. Gatewood was frustrated with his role at Auburn and lack of playing time despite struggles for the Tigers’ offense led by QB Bo Nix.
Yesterday on Kentucky Sports Radio, Jones teased the potential transfer, saying that Kentucky had a “very good shot” at landing the former four-star prospect.
“It does look like the transfer thing is out,” Jones said. “It’s Joey Gatewood, the quarterback from Auburn that is transferring because Bo Nix has that job in perpetuity. He is looking at a number of schools, but I’m here to tell you, Kentucky is right there for him. Not just in the mix, and I’m not saying we’re the leader, I’m just telling you this is not just a list of schools and Kentucky is one of them. I’m telling you Kentucky is in. They have a very good shot at getting him. That doesn’t mean they will, and I’m not making a prediction, but I’m telling you it’s serious interest.”
Gatewood was ranked the No. 49 overall recruit in the class of 2018 on the 247Sports Composite. He had 34 scholarship offers, including Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State and LSU. Early in Gatewood’s recruiting process (2015), many recruiting experts predicted he would pledge to FSU and then-coach Jimbo Fisher.
Gatewood is a 6-foot-5, 233-pound redshirt freshman and Jacksonville, Florida native. He appeared in seven games this season, he completed 5-of-7 passing attempts with two touchdowns to go with 29 rushes for 148 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
If Gatewood commits to Kentucky, he would likely have to sit out next season due to NCAA transfer rules before taking over as the team’s starter in 2021. Barring an NCAA waiver, the former four-star prospect would have two years of eligibility remaining.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
