Former five-star tight end Arik Gilbert played one season at LSU, then announced that he will be transferring from the program. In late January, he had verbally committed to Florida. Today, he made it public via Twitter that he will not be transferring to the SEC East program and will continue to search for a landing spot.
In his one year with the Tigers, Gilbert recorded 368 yards and two touchdowns on 35 receptions.
Though he was a member of LSU’s 2020 recruiting class, he held offers from numerous other SEC programs, including Alabama.
The Crimson Tide have a few tight ends on their roster for the 2021 season, but the only one who has seen recent action is Jahleel Billingsley. However, Billingsley was mostly utilized as a receiver rather than a tight end.
There is one tight end in Alabama’s 2021 recruiting class, Robbie Ouzts, a three-star from South Carolina.
While there’s no indication that Gilbert is leaning toward Alabama, it is telling that he’s comfortable staying in the SEC, after briefly choosing to transfer to Florida.
Roll Tide Wire’s own Clint Lamb took to Twitter to show that the one offensive position Alabama doesn’t have a five-star in is tight end.
Alabama has at least one five-star at every offensive and defensive position except TE.
QB ✅ RB ✅ WR ✅ OL ✅ TE ❌
DL ✅ OLB ✅ LB ✅ CB ✅ S ✅
— Clint Lamb (@ClintRLamb) February 27, 2021
Could Gilbert look to change that while joining a relatively young Crimson Tide offense fresh off of a national championship?
Roll Tide Wire will publish any updates regarding Gilbert’s transfer decisions.