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Arik Gilbert is on the move once again, committing to play for his fifth school in five years. The pass catcher is suiting up for a Division II program in the SIAC.
He’ll now look to imitate Shannon Sharpe with his new school. Gilbert plans on playing for Savannah State in 2025.
His path has been one unexpected upon signing with LSU out of high school. At the time, Gilbert was considered the most highly rated tight end in the history of the recruiting services. That’s still the case at 247 Sports, who puts him just ahead of Greg Olsen for that honor.
Gilbert landed an immediate role with the Tigers, catching 35 passes for 368 yards. After appearing in eight games, he left Baton Rouge.
Arik Gilbert initially committed to play at Florida, a move that fell apart before it got started. He then turned to Georgia where he stayed for two seasons.
Gilbert appeared in just three games in Athens before moving onto another school. Unfortunately, the result was largely the same.
After landing at Nebraska, he was arrested for an alleged burglary resulting in his removal from the team. He has not played in a college football game since 2022. He now looks to return to old form with a new team.
Arik Gilbert hopes to become the next great tight end at Savannah State.
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Gilbert was once a Top 10 player in his recruiting class. Now, he’s gearing up for a season at the Division II level. Despite the demotion in terms of competition, there’s still a chance to achieve his NFL dreams. He doesn’t have to look far for proof!
Shannon Sharpe spent four seasons at Savannah State in the late 1980s. He was named All-SIAC three times as well as the conference’s Player of the Year in 1987. After racking up 192 receptions, 3,744 yards, and 40 touchdowns, his No. 2 jersey was retired He was later drafted by the Broncos. The rest is history.
Sharpe won three Super Bowls. He’s a member of the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame. Arik Gilbert can only hope to see a portion of that success. That will start in his first season with Savannah State.