Tag: arik gilbert

LSU football freshman profile: TE Arik Gilbert

LSU freshman tight end Arik Gilbert became the program’s first five-star commitment at his position — and with good reason.

LSU freshman tight end Arik Gilbert became the program’s first five-star commitment at his position — and with good reason.

Gilbert joins a 2020 Tigers team that will be defending their national championship from last season, and he could be a viable part of the offense early on.

He will battle with Jamal Pettigrew for the starting role at tight end. Pettigrew is a veteran on the team, but the hype surrounding Gilbert seems to be real.

The talented freshman was the Gatorade National Player of the Year for 2019, becoming the first tight end ever to win the award.

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He caught 101 passes for 1,760 yards and averaged 117.3 yards per game with 14 touchdowns during his senior season of high school in Marietta, Georgia.

His 6-foot-5-inch, 249-pound frame gives him a big advantage over opposing defenders. Gilbert is great at catching the pass in routes, but is also stellar in the pass-blocking game.

The Tigers could use him as a crucial blocker for when quarterback Myles Brennan is in the pocket. Just like Thaddeus Moss last season, Gilbert could see valuable playing time and anywhere from two to five touchdown receptions for the season.

Arguably one of the best recruits in LSU’s 2020 class, Gilbert could quickly become one of the most important players on the offensive side of the ball this season.

It will be interesting to see how much playing time the freshman tight end earns and how the coaching staff prepares to utilize him in what could likely be another pass-heavy offensive scheme this season.

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LSU TE Arik Gilbert named Gatorade National Football Player of the Year

LSU freshman tight end Arik Gilbert is the highest-ranked tight end in the history of 247Sports.

LSU freshman tight end Arik Gilbert is the highest-ranked tight end in the history of 247Sports.

Gilbert, who committed to the Tigers in October and signed in December, is a 6-foot-5, 253-pounder from Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga.

On Friday, Gilbert received quite the honor as he was named Gatorade National Football Player of the Year.

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Paige Bueckers, a basketball star from Hopkins High in Minnetonka, Minn., was named Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Gilbert had a record-setting season for Marietta High in 2019. He caught 105 passes for 1,860 yards and 15 touchdowns. He led his high school to the Class 7A Georgia state championship. It was Marietta’s first state title win since 1967.

Gilbert was recently named to the Mackey Award watch list. The Mackey Award is given annually to college football’s top tight end.

With Thaddeus Moss and Stephen Sullivan both now in the NFL, the starting position belongs to Gilbert as we near the beginning of the 2020 season.

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LSU freshman TE Arik Gilbert named to Mackey Award watch list

Gilbert also happens to be the highest-rated tight end in 247Sports history.

The defending champion LSU Tigers had an opening at tight end in 2020 after Thaddeus Moss and Stephen Sullivan completed their collegiate careers and went on to the NFL.

Fortunately for LSU head coach Ed Orgeron, he had a pretty good replacement lined up. Arik Gilbert, the No. 5 overall player — and No. 1 tight end — in the 2020 recruiting class, per 247Sports, committed to the Tigers last October.

Gilbert also happens to be the highest-rated tight end in 247Sports history.

This week, Gilbert was named to the Mackey Award watch list. The Mackey Award is given annually to college football’s top tight end.

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Gilbert has yet to play one snap of college football.

The Tigers are replacing a host of starters on the offensive side of the ball in 2020. Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow is the most notable departure and he will be replaced by junior Myles Brennan.

Brennan will have plenty of talented weapons around him. Receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall are arguably the best duo in the country. In Gilbert, Brennan has a tight end who can not only beat defenders down the field but become a safety valve in the short passing game, too.

Regardless of whether or not Gilbert wins the award, making the watch list ahead of his freshman season is indicative of the massive expectations he has before him.

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Marietta’s Harrison Bailey, Arik Gilbert flip the script on touchdown trick play

Normally it’s Harrison Bailey throwing the touchdowns.
On Friday, he and Arik Gilbert flipped roles for at trick play to end the half.

Marietta (Georgia) football four-star quarterback Harrison Bailey has connected with five-star tight end Arik Gilbert consistently over the last three years. Like, well over 100 times for almost 30 touchdowns.

But on Friday night, the roles were flipped.

As the first half came to a close in the playoff game against Parkview (Lilburn, Georgia), Gilbert was the one to throw a touchdown pass and Bailey was on the receiving end.

It was Gilbert’s first completion of his career (he had two prior attempts) and Bailey’s first reception.

The trick play gave the Blue Panthers a 28-17 lead heading into the half and capped off a 21-point second quarter. Marietta went on to win 42-31 and advance to the championship game.

Just one more game for Marietta to try to complete its turnaround from the 5-win 2018 campaign.

This year, Bailey has thrown for 4,000 yards at a 69.3% clip and passing for 44 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. Ranked the No. 4 pro-style quarterback in the country, he is committed to Tennessee.

Gilbert, the No. 1 tight end and No. 9 player in the 2020 class, is committed to LSU. He has 90 receptions for 1,614 yards and 12 touchdowns. Well, now 13 touchdowns, including that touchdown pass.

Marietta will take on No. 17 Lowndes on Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. ET to decide the GHSA 7A champion.