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Ohio State football: Buckeyes pursuing another linebacker transfer

By Del Barris

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Palaie Gaoteote IV #1 of the USC Trojans warms up before the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Palaie Gaoteote IV #1 of the USC Trojans warms up before the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Ohio State football team is trying to go after another linebacker in the transfer portal.

We’ve all heard the expression, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Ryan Day and his staff did not succeed in landing transfer linebacker Henry To’o To’o, so they’re trying again. Multiple reports say the Buckeyes reached out to another top linebacker in the transfer portal not long after To’o To’o made his decision known.

Up until just a few days ago, it was thought Palaie Gaoteote, who spent three seasons at USC, was all but a lock to transfer to Texas. That all changed when the Buckeyes entered the picture. Ohio State is very interested in Gaoteote and reports say Gaoteote is very interested in them. OSU was one of the schools heavily involved in recruiting him out of high school and is now considered the favorite to land Gaoteote.

The 6’2”, 250-pound Gaoteote was a five-star recruit and the top inside linebacker in the country coming out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas in 2018. During his three years as a Trojan, he had 105 tackles, including 7 ½ tackles for loss and two sacks. He has fourteen career starts but appeared in just two games last season due to an injury and his decision to transfer.

Gaoteote would give the Buckeyes some much-needed veteran depth at a very thin position. He would battle Dallas Gant for the starting job at the Mike (middle) position if he joins the OSU program. When I see that 250 pounds, all I can think of is a big run-stopper filling holes. Considering the style of football most of Ohio State’s opponents (and potential opponents) play, that size would most certainly be a welcome addition to the middle of the Buckeye defense.

However, there are definitely injury concerns. Gaoteote had knee surgery before his freshman year at USC. An ankle injury limited him to just eight games in 2019. Last season it was a concussion that put him on the sidelines.

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The hope is current Buckeye and Bishop Gorman alum Haskell Garrett will help lure Gaoteote to Columbus. If Ryan Day didn’t think his team needed help at linebacker, he would not be aggressively pursuing players. This team is very thin at the position. I’ll take a look at the state of the OSU linebackers on Saturday. Keep an eye out for that article.

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