Former LSU Standout Arik Gilbert Looks For New Beginning With Transfer to HBCU Savannah State

Arik Gilbert’s football journey began with big dreams and incredible talent. He was once considered the top tight end recruit in the country. However, his path hasn’t been smooth. It’s been filled with transfers, off-field struggles, and moments of brilliance that were too brief.

After stints at powerhouse programs and a brief exit from football, Gilbert is stepping into uncharted territory with an FCS HBCU team, Savannah State. How did one of the most promising players in the nation end up here? The answer is in his chaotic yet fascinating college football saga.

From Top Recruit to FCS Transfer: Arik Gilbert’s CFB Saga

Arik Gilbert’s story is a powerful reminder that talent alone doesn’t guarantee a smooth path. Once one of the country’s most hyped high school players, Gilbert is now trying to restart his football career at Savannah State—an FCS school far from the spotlight he once owned.

The transfer portal has made switching schools common in college sports. But for someone like Gilbert, a former five-star recruit who once played at LSU, Georgia, and Nebraska, landing at Savannah State shows how far things can fall.

After graduating from high school, the ex-LSU standout had the world at his feet. He was ranked the No. 1 tight end in the country and was considered a top-five national recruit. His size, skill, and athleticism made him a future NFL star in the eyes of many.

He began at LSU and had a solid freshman year, catching 35 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns. But his journey quickly took a sharp turn. He opted out after eight games in 2020 due to personal reasons. Then came a transfer to Georgia in 2021, but he never played that season. In 2022, he had just two catches and one touchdown.

Arik Gilbert has had one of the craziest CFB careers ever:

– 2019: #1 TE recruit in country commits to LSU
– 2020: Opts out of LSU’s season after 8 games
– 2021: Transfers to Georgia but doesn’t play
– 2022: Has 2 catches all season for Georgia
– 2023: Transfers to Nebraska,… pic.twitter.com/4wPYQuuPzZ

— College Sports Only 🏈 🏀 ⚾️ (@CollegeSportsO) April 29, 2025

Searching for a fresh opportunity, Gilbert transferred again in 2023—this time to Nebraska. But things went from bad to worse. Instead of a fresh start, he was arrested for allegedly robbing a liquor store, with damage reported at about $650. By 2024, the Nebraska transfer was out of football entirely.

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In 2025, he’s trying to write a new chapter at Savannah State. It’s a long way from the big stadiums and national TV games he once played in. Most sports stories we hear are about success. Gilbert’s CFB saga is the opposite, but the potential for a fresh start exists.

If he can turn from the problems he faced at his previous schools, and if he can electrify on a smaller stage of HBCU football, he might just be football’s next great comeback story.