Auburn backup quarterback Joey Gatewood, who lost a preseason battle with freshman Bo Nix for the starting job, has left the team and entered the transfer portal, coach Gus Malzahn said.
“He’s just at a point now where he feels like he wants to be a starting quarterback and needs to start looking for schools to find a spot,” Malzahn said on Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference with the media, per 247Sports.
“He’s a fine young man and I really appreciate everything he’s done for our program.”
Gatewood, a redshirt freshman, had a limited role in short-yardage packages, rushing 29 times for 148 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 5 of 7 passes for 54 yards and two scores.
He was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2018.
Nix, the first true freshman to start a season-opener at Auburn since 1946, began the season by directing a game-winning drive against Oregon, but he struggled in losses to highly ranked Florida and LSU, completing a combined 26 of 62 passes with four interceptions, while Gatewood barely got off the sideline. He had one rush in last week’s loss to LSU.
No. 11 Auburn (6-2, 3-2 SEC) hosts Ole Miss on Saturday. Malzahn said redshirt freshman Cord Sandberg will be the backup to Nix.
