Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently released its preseason All-SEC selections for the upcoming 2021 season.
Georgia football is represented by first-team selection, LSU transfer Arik Gilbert at receiver, along with four other first-team selections in defensive back Tykee Smith, senior guard Justin Shaffer, senior linebacker Nakobe Dean and senior punter Jake Camarda.
Gilbert played tight end at LSU but is officially listed as a receiver on UGA’s roster.
Ranking the top 10 returning college TEs
1. Charlie Kolar, Iowa State
2. Arik Gilbert, Georgia
3. Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M
4. Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
5. Brant Kuithe, UtahComplete list ⬇️
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 15, 2021
A former five-star recruit out of Marietta, Ga., Gilbert signed with Georgia after a solid freshman season at LSU where he caught 35 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns in eight games played.
A more telling stat is Gilbert’s ability to win jump balls, something that the Bulldogs will be missing without star receiver George Pickens – who’s out indefinitely with an ACL tear.
Contested catch rate in 2020:
George Pickens – 9/15 – 60%
All other #UGA TE/WRs – 9/36 – 25%
Arik Gilbert – 8/14 – 57%
— Brent Rollins (@PFF_Brent) June 13, 2021
So at least on the surface, UGA may be able to plug-and-play Gilbert while Pickens rests up for a possible championship run.
Check out some of Gilbert’s freshman highlights here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PStpR8uAlc
And see the full list of PFF’s All-SEC selections here.
