Joey Gatewood -- now a WR -- hits the transfer portal again

On3 imageby:Jack Pilgrim12/14/22

Remember Joey Gatewood? The dual-threat playmaker once compared to Cam Newton was seen as Kentucky’s quarterback of the future when he announced his commitment to the program back in 2019.

The No. 46 overall recruit and No. 5 quarterback in the 2018 On3 Consensus, Gatewood first signed with Auburn out of high school, rushing for three touchdowns and 148 yards to go with two scores through the air (54 yards, 5-7 passing) as a redshirt freshman. He then transferred to Kentucky and was ruled eligible for the 2020 season, totaling 109 passing yards and 62 rushing yards on the year playing behind Terry Wilson.

Rather than taking over as the team’s starter in 2021, the Wildcats brought in Will Levis and ultimately named him QB1, a decision that led Gatewood back to the portal. There, he committed to play for his former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn at Central Florida, where he was again declared eligible right away.

Now, he’s back in the transfer portal looking to find his fourth school in six years after an uneventful two-year stint with the Knights that saw him change positions entirely, moving from quarterback to wide receiver.

“He’s got a real chance,” Malzahn said of Gatewood’s position change at the time. “So, I’m excited to see his development with that.”

He threw for 17 yards (2-8 passing) and a touchdown while rushing for 142 yards and a touchdown in 2021 before failing to accumulate any stats as a receiver in 2022.

On3 was the first to report Gatewood’s latest decision to transfer, his third time hitting the portal overall.

Where will the 6-foot-5, 233-pound prospect out of Jacksonville, FL land to close out his well-traveled college career? What position will he play at his next stop? Should be interesting to see how things unfold for the former blue-chip recruit many expected to be a star at this level.

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2024-04-18