Ohio State transfer linebacker denied NCAA waiver

Palaie Gaoteote, a former five-star linebacker who transferred from USC to Ohio State this offseason, had his eligibility waiver denied by the NCAA, according to Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. Gaoteote is on campus in Columbus, but Day said previously that he is currently paying his own way through school.

“As of right now, we got word that he got denied,” Day told reporters during his Thursday press conference. “We’re going to try to find out what’s next.”

Gaoteote’s transfer does not fall under the new one-time transfer rule as he entered the transfer portal in December prior to its passing. The 6-foot-2, 248-pount linebacker practiced with the Buckeyes throughout fall camp.

The Ohio State staff expressed hope throughout the process that Gaoteote would receive a waiver and be eligible to play this season, even reportedly providing him first-team reps in the final preseason scrimmage.

“Very, very disappointed he wasn’t granted an opportunity to play this season,” said Day, who also reiterated that Gaoteote will remain on the roster.

More on Palaie Gaoteote

In three seasons at USC, Gaoteote had 105 tackles in 17 games. He started two games for the Trojans last year before a concussion sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Gaoteote is out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas and heavily considered Ohio State out of high school. His cousin is fifth-year defensive tackle Haskell Garrett.

The Buckeyes need help at linebacker after losing all four starters from last year — Tuf Borland, Baron Browning, Pete Werner and Justin Hilliard. All four of them are now members of an NFL roster.

Dallas Gant, Teradja Mitchell, Mitchell Melton, Tommy Eichenberg and Cody Simon are talented, but they lack experience. They have a combined 68 career tackles, and 44 of them belong to Gant. Gant did not play this spring due to a foot injury but is likely the starter at middle linebacker.

Bad timing

The news of Palaie Gaoteote’s denied waiver could not come at a worse time for Ohio State. The team is now two days away from a Top-25 showdown with defending Pac-12 champion Oregon.

Ohio State opened as a 14-point home favorite for Saturday’s top-15 showdown between the Buckeyes and Oregon, according to the folks at VegasInsider.com. The over/under has also been set at 62.5.

Oregon will likely also be without some of its top defenders with uncertainty surrounding Kayvon Thibodeaux and Justin Flowe.