SEC cites ‘unique circumstances’ in declaring Kentucky QB Joey Gatewood eligible
Joey Gatewood, who enrolled at the University of Kentucky in January, has been granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA.
Gatewood, a quarterback, will have three full years of eligibility at UK instead of having to sit out a season. Gatewood conceivably could spend the next four seasons with the Wildcats, as the NCAA is not counting any games played during the 2020 season against fall-sport athletes’ collegiate eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He and true freshman Beau Allen have been taking most of the reps behind Terry Wilson, who is the starter again this season after suffering a year-ending knee injury seven quarters into the 2019 campaign. Gatewood might have the edge on the depth chart since he has some experience playing in the SEC, but the coaching staff has also been high on Allen and it wouldn’t surprise to see them both listed with an “or” underneath Wilson.
The approval of Gatewood’s transfer waiver request by the Southeastern Conference on Wednesday was aided by the COVID-19 pandemic, Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. Sankey said the league approved several waiver requests after considering the effects of the coronavirus, the NCAA’s decision in August to provide eligibility relief for all athletes this fall and the fact the NCAA is considering making permanent changes to its transfer rules as early as next year.
“It must be stated unequivocally that these approvals are solely a reflection of the unique circumstances present and should not be interpreted as endorsement of the rationale set forth by individuals seeking these waivers,” Sankey said. “These are unprecedented times in which decisions about eligibility and competitive opportunities demand consideration of the current challenges facing our student-athletes and schools as a result of COVID-19. In a non-COVID environment there may have been a different outcome for some of the waiver requests determined today.”
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops and Gatewood thanked Sankey on Twitter for taking into consideration the unique circumstances surrounding the 2020 season.
Gatewood committed to Kentucky last December after announcing his intentions to leave Auburn in October. He was a top-50 recruit and consensus four-star recruit in the 2018 freshman signing class. Recruiting site 247Sports tabbed him as the No. 1 athlete in America in that class.
He played in eight total games for Auburn, one as a true freshman and seven as a reserve backing up true freshman Bo Nix, who was named SEC Freshman of the Year last season. He threw two touchdowns and rushed for two more as a Tiger last season.
Gatewood saw the writing on the wall well before Nix took that honor.
“I knew what was going to be the deal, so there was really nothing hesitant about what I was going to do there. It was about where I was going to go,” Gatewood told reporters in February, the only time he’s spoken publicly since arriving in Lexington. “ ... “Luckily, I made one visit to Kentucky and I was pretty much sold, so I didn’t have to go all around the country looking somewhere. My home is here.”
UK filed its final paperwork for a waiver in mid-July. Because Gatewood transferred within the Southeastern Conference, the league also had a say in determining his eligibility.
This story was originally published September 30, 2020 at 7:27 PM.
