Will It Be Auburn or Florida State for 2018 QB Joey Gatewood?
With quarterbacks in 2016 and 2017 already committing at a rapid rate, a handful of elite passers in the 2018 class, such as Sunshine State standout Joey Gatewood, are drawing attention from college powers.
The 6’3”, 206-pound Jacksonville native already holds 30 offers heading into his sophomore season, but Auburn and Florida State have emerged as his two primary suitors.
According to Keith Niebuhr of AuburnUndercover, Gatewood has made plans to commit during the middle of this season.
“They exactly even,” Gatewood told Niebuhr. “Auburn—I’m big on Auburn. I always have been. I’m also big on FSU.”
So which school will be the eventual choice for Gatewood?
As Niebuhr details, his upcoming visits to both schools in the fall could play a major role in his decision.
Gatewood, who was a frequent visitor to FSU’s campus during the summer, will visit Tallahassee again next weekend for the Seminoles' home opener against Texas State.
He’s also scheduled two trips to Auburn for the Tigers' home dates against Mississippi State (Sept. 26) and Alabama (Nov. 28).
Another factor that could come into play would be the depth charts at each school.
Auburn recently earned a pledge from 2017 4-star quarterback Lowell Narcisse, which is something Gatewood admitted to Niebuhr that he’d like to discuss with Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn and his staff.
Meanwhile, Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher may elect to go a different route in his pursuit of Gatewood.
FSU has a commitment from 2016 4-star quarterback Malik Henry, but the Seminoles have yet to heavily pursue any top passers in the 2017 cycle—which paves the way for Gatewood to be the Seminoles' clear focus at the position in 2018.
“They [FSU] think they’re going to get me, so they’re not really recruiting a 2017 [quarterback],” Gatewood told Niebuhr. “They’re waiting on me."
"#NoleNation pic.twitter.com/ixnx84Hq09
— Joey Gatewood (@DuelThreat2) July 18, 2015"
Earlier in the summer, Florida State seemed primed to land a commitment from Gatewood.
Although he’s mentioned former Tigers star Cam Newton as a player he models his game after, Fisher’s history of developing quarterbacks could be the trump card that tilts the scales of his recruitment toward Tallahassee, as noted by Chris Nee of Noles247.
"The whole coaching staff was real easy to get along with,” Gatewood told Nee on his attraction to FSU. “They were nice people. Also, (head) Coach Jimbo (Fisher), he has some history behind him with quarterbacks. I also kind of want to stay in Florida."
While Auburn has since made up ground on Gatewood, it would seem that the Seminoles are still in the driver’s seat to land his eventual pledge.
Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
