Ohio State Linebacker Palaie Gaoteote Cleared to Play for Buckeyes in 2021

The USC transfer and former five-star recruit, who had been dealing with an ongoing eligibility issue, has been cleared by the NCAA to play for the Buckeyes immediately, a team spokesperson confirmed to Eleven Warriors on Friday.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said Thursday that Gaoteote's waiver had been denied by the NCAA, but that the program would continue to pursue an appeal. However, The Columbus Dispatch reported Friday morning that the NCAA had not officially denied Gaoteote's waiver, and that the petition process was still underway without a timetable in place.

Gaoteote, who is wearing No. 21 for the Buckeyes, went through preseason camp with Ohio State without knowing whether he would be eligible to play this season. The fourth-year linebacker, who enrolled at Ohio State this summer after spending the first three years of his collegiate career at USC, had to appeal to the NCAA for a waiver to be eligible to play this year.

Ohio State added Gaoteote from the transfer portal in June after its top transfer target at the linebacker position, Henry To'o To'o, chose Alabama over Ohio State. At the time of To'o To'o's decision, Gaoteote was expected to transfer to Texas, but Ohio State jumped back in the race for Gaoteote and was able to convince him to become a Buckeye instead.

Rated as the top inside linebacker and the No. 15 overall player in the class of 2018, Gaoteote was previously recruited by the Buckeyes out of high school before choosing USC. He was ranked by 247Sports as the third-best linebacker in the transfer portal this year, behind To'o To'o and Mike Jones Jr., who transferred to LSU from Clemson.

With the Trojans, Gaoteote made an immediate impact as a true freshman, registering 38 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He was limited by an ankle injury in 2019, but still had 58 tackles and three tackles for loss in eight games. Gaoteote only played in USC's first two games in 2020, missing time with a concussion before electing to enter the transfer portal.

Ohio State's decision to bring in Gaoteote came following the departure of its top four linebackers from last season: Pete Werner, Tuf Borland, Baron Browning and Justin Hilliard. With 14 career starts, Gaoteote immediately becomes the most experienced linebacker on Ohio State's 2021 roster, though it's uncertain what role he'll play for the Buckeyes against Oregon on Saturday and thereafter.

In Ohio State's season opener against Minnesota, team captain Teradja Mitchell led all Buckeyes with 70 snaps played at the Will linebacker position, with Tommy Eichenberg starting at Mike and logging 49 snaps. Dallas Gant and Cody Simon both saw significant time as well, playing 41 and 37 snaps, respectively, and former Buckeye running back Steele Chambers was the only other Ohio State linebacker to see reps on defense, with nine snaps of his own.

Although he is listed as a senior on Ohio State's roster, Gaoteote still has two years of eligibility after the NCAA gave all players a free year of eligibility last season.