BREAKING: Joey Gatewood is eligible to play this season

UK Athletics

Kentucky quarterback Joey Gatewood is eligible to play the remainder of the 2020 season.

This evening, UK head coach Mark Stoops announced that Gatewood received both waivers and is eligible moving forward.

“We’re excited that [Joey Gatewood] has received his waivers from the [NCAA] and [SEC] and will be eligible to play this season,” Stoops said. “We’re thankful that the SEC Presidents and Commissioner [Greg Sankey] took into account the unique circumstances around this season.”

We’re excited that @joey1gatewood has received waivers from the @NCAA and @SEC and will be eligible to play this season. We’re thankful that the SEC Presidents and Commissioner @GregSankey took into account the unique circumstances around this season.

— Mark Stoops (@UKCoachStoops) September 30, 2020

“I appreciate the SEC and NCAA along with UK Athletics to be cleared for immediate eligibility this year,” Gatewood added in a follow-up tweet.

The ruling comes after the SEC voted to temporarily remove its bylaw that requires intraconference transfers serve a year in residence before being eligible to compete.

“In consideration of current circumstances resulting from disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including eligibility relief provided to student-athletes in August by the NCAA, and in anticipation of changes to NCAA transfer legislation, the Southeastern Conference today approved a number of transfer waiver requests that originated from member institutions seeking exceptions to the long-standing Conference bylaw that requires intraconference transfers serve a year in residence before being eligible to compete,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced. “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. 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.

“Our member institutions have been clear in the past that they oppose immediate eligibility for intraconference transfers. Given the increased number of waiver requests this year, and a changing national landscape related to student-athlete transfer issues, it is evident that the current transfer bylaw must undergo a thorough review by Conference membership in the most timely manner possible and prior to the 2021-22 academic year.”

Gatewood, the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 36 overall player from the class of 2018, announced his transfer to Kentucky back on Dec. 5, 2019.

As a redshirt freshman at Auburn last year, Gatewood totaled 176 rushing yards on 32 carries with three touchdowns, and completed 5 of 8 passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns in eight career games for the Tigers.

Nine months after his commitment, the 6-foot-4, 221-pound quarterback out of Jacksonville, Florida is officially eligible and will suit up for the Wildcats this season.