What does the addition of Joey Gatewood mean for Kentucky’s future at quarterback?
The University of Kentucky football program this week earned the commitment of its highest-ranked quarterback recruit since Tim Couch.
Joey Gatewood, a transfer from Auburn who was considered a top-50 prospect in high school, announced Thursday on Twitter that he would be transferring to UK.
Couch was a star before recruiting services like 247Sports and Rivals were a thing, but the former Leslie County standout was one of, if not the nation’s most-sought-after prep player. Gatewood has a strong case for No. 2 on that list: he was ranked as the country’s No. 1 athlete in America and the No. 49 overall prospect by 247Sports in the class of 2018, and was considered the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback and No. 62 prospect in the class by Rivals.
According to 247Sports’ historical composite rankings, which go back to 2000, Gatewood would be the fourth-highest ranked player overall that UK has ever signed. Justin Rogers, a five-star defensive tackle whom UK expects to sign as part of the 2020 recruiting class, is No. 3 on that list.
Gatewood is not expected to be eligible next season, but UK could apply for a waiver from the NCAA on his behalf. If that is not granted, he would have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2020 season.
Assuming Gatewood is not granted a waiver — the most likely outcome, but with the NCAA it can’t be completely ruled out — he would be one of at least five scholarship quarterbacks on UK’s roster by 2021, joining Lafayette’s Walker Wood (who will then be a senior), Amani Gilmore (sophomore), Nick Scalzo (sophomore) and Lexington Catholic’s Beau Allen (redshirt freshman).
Kentucky’s quarterback future
Given the scarcity of playing time at the quarterback position, it would be surprising if all five of those players are still in Lexington by the time 2021 gets here. Transfers have become common across the nation, and Kentucky has been no stranger to them.
Sawyer Smith, who transferred from Troy, is in Lexington in part due to the recent transfers of Gunnar Hoak and Danny Clark, who signed as part of the 2016 and 2017 classes, respectively. Clark announced his transfer during the 2018 season while Hoak made his decision following spring camp this year. Before them, Reese Phillips, who signed as part of the 2013 class, transferred following his sophomore season. Drew Barker, the highest-ranked quarterback to sign with Kentucky under Stoops, ultimately gave up football in lieu of transferring. Patrick Towles moved on to Boston College as a graduate transfer.
Wood, who’s recovered from multiple surgeries and before this season never took a snap, is a hometown talent who seems to enjoy being a Wildcat, but it’d be hard to blame him if he were to look elsewhere for playing time. Despite being listed as the backup quarterback for parts of this season, it was clear he was considered no higher than UK’s fourth option in 2019.
Gilmore and Scalzo, both three-star prospects who signed as part of the 2019 recruiting class, might both eventually be transfer candidates. Scalzo during fall camp suffered an ACL injury — his second in less than a year — but might otherwise have seen action early in the wake of injuries to Terry Wilson and Sawyer Smith (both of whom will be gone following the 2020 season). Offensive coaches lauded Gilmore’s growth between UK’s two bye weeks but his only appearance was late in the Wildcats’ blowout of Tennessee Martin.
Prior to Gatewood’s commitment, Allen was the only quarterback expected to sign with Kentucky as part of the 2020 class. The high school Paul Hornung Award winner and Mr. Football candidate is also a four-star prospect, according to Rivals. Regardless of how many quarterbacks are on the roster by 2021, most expect Allen and Gatewood to be the leading candidates for the starting job at that point.
Allen, who recently completed his final season at Lexington Catholic, has told Kentucky’s staff that he’s 100 percent committed to Kentucky regardless of Gatewood’s decision.
“Nothing ever really changed for me at all,” Allen told the Herald-Leader on Thursday. “I’m all good.”
