Nebraska adds commit from former five-star and Georgia TE Arik Gilbert
Nebraska is not done building its 2023 football roster. The Huskers added another big piece this week in former five-star and Georgia tight end Arik Gilbert.
The former No. 1 tight end in the country from the class of 2020 visited Lincoln last weekend. He was one of three Bulldogs the Huskers hosted, along with edge rusher MJ Sherman and tight end Brett Seither.
He made the news of his commitment official through On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Sherman committed to the Huskers on Monday after his visit, while Seither chose to stay closer to home and committed to Georgia Tech. Gilbert becomes the 10th transfer player the Huskers have added to its roster.
Gilbert will be looking for a fresh start at Nebraska
After Gilbert’s freshman season at LSU in 2020, he looked like a potential future first-round NFL Draft pick.
The 6-foot-5, 248-pound Gilbert was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team after catching 35 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns in eight games.
After that, Gilbert chose to enter the transfer portal. He picked Georgia, but things never could take off for him in Athens.
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UGA had arguably one of the best tight end rooms in the country, led by 2021 No. 1 ranked tight end Brock Bowers.
In 2021, Gilbert took his true redshirt. As a redshirt freshman in 2022, he played in three games, catching two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown. He was on the preseason John Mackey Award list given to the nation’s top tight end. In 2021, Pro Football Focus listed him as a second-team pre-season All-American.
At the end of the 2022 season, Gilbert did not dress for the Bulldogs.
“We’re trying to help him be the best person he can on and off the field, and that’s decisions we make each and every week,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said.
“He continues to grow. We’re just trying to help Arik as a person and a student right now.”
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When Gilbert visited Nebraska, one of the things emphasized on the trip was the great life skill and support programs NU had to offer.
“Nebraska was more focused on me coming in and having a support staff around me,” Gilbert said. “They made it clear I would be supported.
“They have a lot of good things as far as academics going there, graduation percentages and a new academic center being built.”
