Tag: arik gilbert

Georgia TE Arik Gilbert enters transfer portal

Second Bulldog to enter the portal…

Redshirt sophomore tight end Arik Gilbert has entered his name in the transfer portal after two years in Athens.

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Gilbert transferred from LSU after a freshman All-American season in 2020.

The Marietta, Georgia, native did not appear in a game in 2021 due to personal reasons.

Pro Football Focus named Gilbert a preseason All-American ahead of the 2022 season, but Gilbert did not see the field as much as expected.

Gilbert appeared in three games in 2022, catching two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown.

The No. 1 tight end in the class of 2020 did not dress for multiple games this year for what coach Kirby Smart described again as personal reasons.

It’s not clear exactly what kept Gilbert from contributing in his time at Georgia, but with the Bulldogs’ depth at tight end, Gilbert might find a better opportunity to see the field elsewhere.

Gilbert is the second Bulldog to enter the portal. Junior defensive lineman Bill Norton entered last week.

Norton has already found a home at Arizona.

After Gilbert makes a move, UGA is expected to have Brock Bowers, Oscar Delp, Brett Seither and Ryland Goede in the tight end room for the 2023 season. True freshmen Pearce Spurlin and Lawson Luckie will join from this year’s class.

Junior tight end Darnell Washington has an NFL decision to make after the Bulldogs’ postseason appearance.

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Kirby Smart updates status of UGA TE Arik Gilbert

Kirby Smart talks Arik Gilbert, who did not make the trip to South Carolina.

Georgia Bulldogs head football coach Kirby Smart met with the media on Monday to discuss the Week 3 win over South Carolina and the upcoming home game versus Kent State.

Smart updated reporters on the status of Georgia tight end Arik Gilbert, who did not travel with the team to Columbia for Georgia’s 48-7 win over South Carolina.

“He’s going to be day-to-day throughout the week,” Smart said on Monday.

“All I can say is he didn’t make the trip for personal reasons” Smart said after the Bulldogs’ 48-7 win in Columbia. “I’m hoping he gets back with us.”

Gilbert did not play last season due to personal reasons after he transferred to UGA from LSU following his freshman year.

Smart also discussed the departure of defensive back William Poole, a sixth year senior who has played in 33 games throughout his UGA career.

“William Poole is not going to be with us for the remainder of the season,” Smart said.

“He’s dealing with a personal matter, and he’s going to focus on that and his health and well-being, so he will not be with us for the rest of the year, unfortunately.”

Also on this week’s injury report are defensive tackle Jalen Carter and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

Mitchell did not play in Georgia’s 48-7 win over South Carolina due to an ankle injury he suffered against Samford the week prior.

“We’re hoping to get him back this week,” Smart said. “Again, it’s one of those deals where last week we were hopeful to get him back.”

As for Carter, Smart said the superstar defensive tackle has been dealing with an ankle injury since Georgia’s Week 1 win over Oregon. The injury kept Carter out of the starting lineup on Saturday against the Gamecocks, though he managed two tackles on 11 snaps played.

“Jalen has been dealing with a lingering ankle issue, he really had it since the Oregon game and he’s trying to get well,” Smart said.

“We’re trying to get him healthy. Hopefully, he’ll be full-go. He was close last week but didn’t end up having to play a lot of snaps.”

Georgia has just one sack through three games this season.

Additionally, Smart said that cornerback Nyland Green is dealing with a lingering hamstring issue. Green did not play against South Carolina.

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How LSU transfers fared at their new schools in Week 1

From Arik Gilbert to Eli Ricks, here’s how former Tigers fared in Week 1.

LSU was busy in the transfer portal this offseason.

Much of that was because it lost quite a few guys, too. Throughout the coaching transition, there was a steady trickle of players leaving. That’s just how it goes when a new coach takes over.

Some of the losses hurt more than others, like [autotag]Eli Ricks[/autotag] and [autotag]Dwight McGlothern[/autotag]. There were some hits that LSU should have no trouble absorbing, like the loss of [autotag]Trey Palmer[/autotag], who left a crowded wide receiver room.

Not all of these transfers are from this cycle. There are guys like [autotag]Chris Curry[/autotag], now with Utah, who saw a steady dose of action on Saturday. Let’s take a look at how some former LSU players fared in their new uniforms.

The best prop bets for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2022

A look at the 10 best prop bets for the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2022 college football season.

It is almost time for the Georgia Bulldogs to kick off their 2022 season in which they look to defend their national championship.

The Dawgs will be led by last year’s starting quarterback [autotag]Stetson Bennett[/autotag] once again. He returned to Athens and won the job from former USC QB J.T. Daniels, who is now at West Virginia.

The team also returns the leading receiver, tight end [autotag]Brock Bowers[/autotag]. He and [autotag]Arik Gilbert[/autotag] should provide a nice one-two punch in the passing game for Bennett.

Defensively, they will be led by standout cornerback [autotag]Kelee Ringo[/autotag] and [autotag]Nolan Smith[/autotag]. It all begins with the Oregon Ducks showdown in Atlanta, Georgia.

Oregon-Georgia Betting Odds per Tipico

Line: Georgia  (-16.5)

O/U: 53.5

Money Line: Oregon (+550) | Georgia (-800)

All prop bet odds via Tipico. Colorado and New Jersey residents can make their season-opening prop bets here at Tipico Sportsbook.

As the season sets to kick off, we break down the top 10 prop bets for the 2022 college football season.

Georgia places seven players on ESPN’s top-100 for 2022

Seven Dawgs made ESPN’s list of the top-100 CFB players for 2022

ESPN ranked the top-100 players in college football for the upcoming 2022 season and multiple Georgia Bulldogs made the list, including two in the top-ten.

Despite losing 15 players to the NFL and more to the NCAA transfer portal, the Dawgs still placed seven players inside the top-100.

Alabama leads the way with 8 players, including the No. 1 overall and No. 2 overall guys in quarterback Bryce Young and linebacker Will Anderson. Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud checked in at No. 3 on the list.

Here are the seven Georgia players inside the top-100:

NIL valuations for Georgia’s most valuable players

These NIL valuations for Georgia players will blow your mind

On3 has released its NIL Valuation Rankings, which sets the standard market NIL value for college athletes.

Taking into account a player’s performance, exposure and influence, On3 calculates an athlete’s NIL value, projecting out to as long as 12 months into the future.

On3’s “NIL100” ranks the 100 most valuable college football players in America. The most valuable college football player in America is Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, with an NIL valuation of $3.1M, $700K larger than Ohio State’s CJ Stroud who is tied for second on the list.

On3 also looks at high school prospects, where Arch Manning’s valuation is at $3.4M, making him the most valuable football player in America on either the high school or collegiate level. Sierra Canyon’s Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, has the largest NIL valuation of anyone at $6.4M.

The Georgia Bulldogs have nine players on the list, including five in the top-50:

PFF: Georgia football has three of nation’s top-15 tight ends for 2022

Georgia is absolutely stacked at TE this year

On Thursday, Pro Football Focus released its list of the top-25 tight ends in college football for the 2022 season. 

To say Georgia dominated the list would be an understatement.

Georgia tight ends Brock Bowers, Arik Gilbert, and Darnell Washington occupy the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 14 spots in the top-25. Wow.

No. 1: Brock Bowers

Dec 4, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) catches a pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second half during the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Bowers will only be a sophomore next season but was surely America’s top tight end in 2021.

He was easily Georgia’s biggest offensive weapon last season and reeled in 56 catches for 882 yards, 13 receiving touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown en route to being named a member of the Associated Press and Coaches’ All-SEC First Team. His 13 receiving touchdowns are a single season record at UGA. He was also named the SEC Freshman of the Year.

No. 3: Arik Gilbert

Georgia’s Arik Gilbert celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first half of Georgia’s spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brett Davis)

Gilbert, an LSU transfer who sat out last season for personal reasons, has solidified himself as a weapon for this new-look Georgia offense. Whether UGA lines Gilbert up wide or in-line, his size and athleticism is going to be hard to cover.

“Gilbert is a true freak of nature at 6-foot-5 and 248 pounds — so much so that he flipped from tight end to wide receiver for the Bulldogs,” PFF wrote about Gilbert in its story on the 2023 offensive NFL draft watchlist. The biggest worry is if this talent will return, as he missed all of last season for undisclosed personal reasons.”

No. 14: Darnell Washington

Auburn Tigers defensive back Roger McCreary (23) is called for defensive pass interference on Georgia Bulldogs tight end Darnell Washington (0) at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Washington is an even more intimidating presence at 6-foot-7, 265 pounds. ‘Big-0’ may not surprise you with his speed, but his burst and blocking ability makes him a prototypical NFL tight end prospect with a high ceiling for more development in the pass game.

Washington caught 10 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown after battling back from injury last season.

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PFF tabs Georgia TE Arik Gilbert for Chiefs as potential successor to Travis Kelce

PFF thinks the #Chiefs should be keeping an eye on this 20-year-old tight end prospect as a successor to Travis Kelce.

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The Kansas City Chiefs are projected to have 12 draft picks in the 2023 NFL draft. Could one of those 12 picks be used to find a successor for the longest-tenured player in Kansas City?

PFF’s Michael Renner recently named one 2023 draft prospect that each of the NFL’s 32 teams should be watching. For the Chiefs, he chose Georgia TE Arik Gilbert, a former five-star recruit and Gatorade National Player of the Year. He tabs Gilbert as a potential successor to 33-year-old superstar Travis Kelce because of his wide receiver-like movement skills.

Here is a look at what Renner had to say about Gilbert:

“Travis Kelce isn’t a spring chicken — he turns 33 this fall, and his cap numbers start escalating rapidly thereafter. Even if he does have more years in him, getting a talent like Gilbert in the fold to learn from Kelce is a long-term win. Gilbert was the highest-rated TE recruit ever, as he moves just like a wide receiver despite being 250 pounds. He’s had his fair share of off-field issues, though, that included missing all of last season for personal reasons.”

Gilbert (6-5, 250 pounds) is a transfer redshirt sophomore at Georgia, so there is no guarantee that he’ll declare for the 2023 NFL draft. That said, he’s definitely someone who should be on the Chiefs’ radar for the future. As a true freshman at LSU in 2020, Gilbert started eight games. He caught 35 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns that year. 22 of those receptions resulted in a first down for the Tigers. He was also named Freshman All-SEC as a result of his performance.

Kelce hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, recording his sixth consecutive 1000-yard receiving season in 2021. Still, it wouldn’t hurt the team to keep their eyes on Gilbert should he declare in 2023 or 2024. Gilbert is still quite young at just 20 years old and has a lot of growing to do in the ensuing season for the Bulldogs. A big 2022 season could cement him as one of the top prospects in the league in the near future.

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Sam LaPorta ranked No. 8 in On3’s Impact 300 top 10 tight ends for 2022

Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Sam LaPorta is once again garnering national acclaim. LaPorta was listed as the No. 8 tight end for 2022 by On3.

Sam LaPorta finds him in the mix as one of the nation’s top tight ends on another preseason list. This time, it’s On3’s Impact 300 top 10 returning tight ends.

The 6-foot-4, 249 pound senior tight end is back in Iowa City after authoring the type of season that Hawkeye fans have become accustomed to at the position. As a result, LaPorta checks in as the No. 8 returning tight end according to On3.

LaPorta had a breakout year as a junior last season, hauling in a career-high 53 passes for the Hawkeyes. He also posted career-highs in yards (670) and touchdowns (3). The Highland (Ill.) native’s junior campaign put him over the 1,000-yard receiving yard mark for his career. LaPorta checks in with an On3 NIL Valuation of $155,000. – On3.

One of the interesting numbers is that final one. As one of the biggest returning stars for the Hawkeyes, a healthy NIL deal from one of the local companies wouldn’t come as any sort of a shock for LaPorta. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz recently said to expect more news on the NIL front for the Hawkeyes in the coming weeks and month.

As On3 noted, LaPorta is back with Iowa after a career season. He led the Hawkeyes in receiving yards and receptions last season and will be counted upon to deliver every bit of that type of production and more in 2022. The Highland, Ill., native is regarded by multiple outlets as a 2023 NFL draft riser to watch.

Both Athlon Sports and Pro Football Focus have praised LaPorta this offseason. Athlon Sports listed LaPorta as one of its top 10 Big Ten 2023 NFL draft prospects, while PFF’s Michael Renner ranked LaPorta as his No. 5 tight end and the No. 90 overall prospect entering this upcoming college football season.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. actually had the highest preseason draft grade for LaPorta. The longtime draft expert rates LaPorta as the No. 2 tight end on his most recent 2023 NFL draft big board.

Both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele listed LaPorta as a preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection. LaPorta leads a group that also includes redshirt sophomore Luke Lachey and Lafayette transfer Steven Stilianos as the Hawkeyes’ primary tight ends.

The rest of On3’s Impact 300 top 10 returning tight ends list looked like this: Georgia’s Brock Bowers No. 1, Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer No. 2, South Carolina’s Jaheim Bell No. 3, Georgia’s Arik Gilbert No. 4, Texas’ Jahleel Billingsley No. 5, Georgia’s Darnell Washington No. 6, Stanford’s Ben Yurosek No. 7, Louisville’s Marshon Ford No. 9 and Ole Miss’ Michael Trigg No. 10.

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Alabama TE Cameron Latu a name to watch this season as a key 2023 draft prospect

Cameron Latu is a 2023 draft prospect we all need to keep our eyes on.

In the 2022 NFL draft, only 11 tight ends were drafted overall. However, the 2023 class is maybe the best we have ever seen at the position with multiple guys who can go in the first two days of the draft. Touchdownwire.usatoday broke down the eleven best prospects at the position headed into the season.

Some of the guys on the list are Sam Laporta (Iowa), Arik Gilbert (UGA), and [autotag]Cameron Latu[/autotag] (Alabama). [autotag]Jahleel Billingsley,[/autotag] formerly with the Tide, also made the list with the burnt orange of the Texas Longhorns.

Of all the prospects, Latu remains the most intriguing. Latu was a linebacker commit coming out of high school, and made the switch to tight end in 2019. Latu had a great 2021-2022 season in which he caught 26 passes for 410 yards and eight scores.

Latu’s emergence as a top weapon factored into Billingsley’s decision to head out of Tuscaloosa to find a new home. As a second year starter with a Heisman trophy winner under center, many expect Latu to have a massive breakout year.

With all he has going for him, it isn’t crazy to picture Latu being one of the first couple tight-ends selected in the 2023 NFL draft.

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