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USC Trojans linebacker Palaie Gaoteote has entered the transfer portal, according to a report online.
#USC LB Palaie Gaoteote, a former 5-star recruit, has entered The Portal. Am hearing that the Trojans are hoping he will opt to stay at SC.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 7, 2020
The news took to social media quickly and of course rumors started to swirl about where he could potentially wind up.
The former five-star recruit appeared in two games for the Trojans in 2020 — against Arizona State and against Arizona, last playing in ‘Week 11’ against the Wildcats where he racked up two tackles.
Originally hailing from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, and even with hopes that he’ll return to USC for the 2021 season, it’s impossible not to draw the comparisons to the University of Miami with their Gorman and Southern California connections.
His former high school teammates in TE Brevin Jordan, S Bubba Bolden and QB Tate Martell each play for Miami right now and they’ve shown success in accepting, playing and helping elevate transfer players.
Starting quarterback D’Eriq King was a transfer from Houston and has landed on the Davey O’Brien Award and Maxwell Award Semifinal list. Jaelan Phillips, a UCLA transfer, has landed as a Bednarik Award Semifinalist.
And that list also includes K Jose Borregales, who transferred from FIU, and is a Lou Groza Award semifinalist. Bolden was also named a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist.
The connections are there — and though it is just speculation — it’s hard to overlook.
We’ll continue to monitor the situation.