Ohio State appears to be on the verge of adding a former five-star recruit to its linebacker room.
Former USC linebacker Palaie Gaoteote IV, a five-star prospect out of high school and one of the top linebackers in the transfer portal this year, is now listed as a student in Ohio State's public student directory, indicating that he will be enrolling in the university. Gaoteote could begin classes as soon as Tuesday, when Ohio State's six-week Summer Session 2 is set to begin.
Neither Gaoteote nor Ohio State had confirmed he would join the Buckeyes as of late Friday night, though Ohio State linebackers coach Al Washington hinted at a coming addition to his room with a pair of tweets on Thursday and Friday:
Ohio State has been pursuing the potential addition of Gaoteote since former Tennessee linebacker Henry To'o To'o's commitment to Alabama in May.