Freshman Spotlight: Arik Gilbert, LSU

As we get ready for the 2020 season at CFB Saturdays we will be spotlighting some of the key freshman we expect to play a big role for their teams this season. We are looking at highly talented players who have an opportunity to play and make an impact this fall. Today the spotlight finds TE Arik Gilbert of LSU who has some big shoes to fill in Death Valley.

Background

Arik Gilbert is the #5 ranked player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite. Gilbert was a star at Marietta High School in Georgia where he had over 1,700 receiving yards and 14 TDs. He was heavily recruited but chose to sign with the LSU Tigers and enrolled early to get a head start on his college football career. Because of CO-Vid 19 spring practice was put on hold after just the third practice but Gilbert still got a chance to get accustomed to college life and get started learning the playbook. This fall the freshman will be counted on to make plays on Saturdays.

Scouting Report

Gilbert jumps off the tape with his size and athleticism. He is a legitimate 6’5″ 253 lbs and has excellent feet for a guy that big. He has good speed and leaping ability making him a mismatch for anyone on the field. Gilbert can run by LBs and even some DBs, and is a size mismatch for anyone in the secondary. He can line up out wide, where at times if the defender isn’t in the shot, you might think he’s a split end running a route. Gilbert uses his body very well making him excellent in contested catch situations, he shields the ball well on lower throws and put his leaping ability to use on jump balls. Gilbert is often open even when he is not because of his ability to win the ball.

Like many great athletes in high school most of the film available is with the ball being thrown to Gilbert. Teams focus on getting their play-makers the ball and they are not asked to block as much at the high school level. Gilbert will likely need to work on blocking at the collegiate level, but should be able to become a good blocker. He is a lean 253 lbs and has room to put on more good weight and continue to add strength. Gilbert could have starred on the defensive side of the ball as well so he has the right mentality to be a physical player in the run game. Gilbert has the tools to be a top TE and leave school in three years to play in the NFL.

Outlook

Ed Orgeron led the Tigers to a national championship in 2019 but a lot of the players from that team has moved on to the NFL. At the TE position in particular, LSU lost both Thaddeus Moss (570 receiving yards) and Stephen Sullivan (130 receiving yards). This created an opening at TE, the need is for someone who can be a threat in the passing game because the Tigers also lost QB Joe Burrow, WR Justin Jefferson and RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Luckily Ja’Marr Chase (#1 WR) and Terrance Marshall Jr (#13 WR) do return but the Tigers new QB in 2020 will need help easing into the starting job. Gilbert would fit in perfectly as a big play threat down the seam or a safety valve in the middle of the field, giving his QB a big target.

Arik Gilbert will have every opportunity to see the field early and often. There are no experienced players at TE on the roster who have been used in the passing game. Gilbert has a unique skill set and will be an asset in the passing game instantly. He can do things few players in the country can do on the football field. If he can show that he is a good blocker he may not leave the field much at all, but at the very least Gilbert will be used as a receiving TE. Gilbert will also be a mismatch for defenses in the redzone, where his size and athleticism will be a tremendous asset. Gilbert will be able to get on the field right away and should catch a lot of balls in the LSU offense. He has the chance to be an all conference type of player as a true freshman in 2020.

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LSUvsGASouth 746 image taken by Tammy Anthony Baker is licensed under CC BY 2.0.