Former Auburn football 4-star recruit Joey Gatewood never worked out as a quarterback on the Plains.
Things also didn’t work out during his time with the Kentucky Wildcats under Mark Stoops in Lexington either.
In 2021, Gatewood transferred to UCF to join the coach that recruited him out of high school, Gus Malzahn, hoping things could change.
Things didn’t change.
Gatewood saw snaps solely because of an injury to Dillon Gabriel at the beginning of the season that ultimately ended his UCF career given his Oklahoma transfer. Mikey Keene rose to the occasion as the backup, and Gatewood failed to show enough under center to lead the offense…for a third straight Division I program.
Malzahn is looking to make use of Gatewood’s speed and athleticism, so he’s lining the Class of 2018 Bartram Trail product up as a receiver.
Auburn football fans had a lot to say about it…
I remember when “Auburn fans” were calling for him to start over Bo 😒 https://t.co/AGKFxPu52L
— Brad Hovey (@hoveyyyy) March 30, 2022
Oh my god Gus Malzahn is a JOKE https://t.co/yU4JWNpLuW
— Tingle (@coltontingle2) March 30, 2022
This goes to show how bad malzahn is at developing qbs. https://t.co/9liIztjHHY
— SSN - Auburn Tigers (@SSN_WarEagle) March 30, 2022
“Bo only started because of nepotism!!!!” https://t.co/Zo3596WRcZ
— Bailey Rogers (@bjrogi) March 30, 2022
I’m sure some Auburn fans still think he’s better than Nix. https://t.co/fPKX5wXDJW
— Yard (@TheRealYardLock) March 30, 2022
Yup he’s got a real shot at WR running a 4.82, good thinking Gus. https://t.co/5scQVqneAl pic.twitter.com/3fbGoxCO9D
— Carter Porter (@csporter_) March 30, 2022
Auburn football fans will never live down those that said Joey Gatewood should start over Bo Nix
There’s many reasons Bo Nix decided Oregon was a better place to make a case to NFL GMs to draft him as their next franchise QB than the Plains. Kenny Dillingham’s presence in Eugene is a big one.
But accusations Nix got the QB1 role because of his family legacy definitely rank highly among them. Gatewood ending up as a WR after four years as a QB validates any negative feelings Nix may have about the phantom 2019 QB competition that really wasn’t a competition after all.