Arik Gilbert not practicing per Georgia head coach Kirby Smart

Arik Gilbert is not practicing, according to Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with him as he deals with those personal issues,” Smart said on Saturday after practice. “And we hope to get him back soon.”

Arik Gilbert is dealing with some personal issues and not practicing at the moment, per Kirby Smart:

"Our thoughts and prayers are with him now as he deals with those personal issues. And we hope to get him back soon."

— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) August 14, 2021

Georgia landed the former LSU player and Florida commit on June 1 with the idea to convert him to wide receiver. While there is no timeline for Gilbert’s return, it’s obvious the Bulldogs’ coaching staff has high hopes for him this season.

“I think he has adapted well,” said Todd Monken, Georgia offensive coordinator, after practice this week. “He’s a special talent because he’s in the Brock Bowers mode, he’s athletic enough to play receiver, but big enough to do some things on the interior. He’s a size matchup, he’s a run after catch guy. He loves to play the game. We’re excited that he’s a part of our program.”

Arik Gilbert had 35 catches for 368 yards and two touchdowns in eight games for LSU as a freshman. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound hybrid threat lined up in a variety of spots on and off the line of scrimmage.

It will be a blow to the Georgia offense if Gilbert misses significant time, but Monken was confident about the depth at the wideout position when he spoke to the press last week.

“Well, Jermaine Burton returns as a starter, you got Kearis Jackson as a guy that is coming back, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint is coming off an injury, those are the three guys that are coming back that have probably played the most football,” said Monken.

In addition to his returning contributors, Monken is excited about the progress and skillsets he has seen from the younger and less experienced players fighting for snaps.

“AD (Adonai) Mitchell, we think is going to be a tremendous player here,” said Monken. “You know Arian Smith has a unique skill set that can really run, he is developing other aspects of his game, he is really quick and twitchy. So, he is not somebody who is a straight run track guy — but he is developing his traits and there are days where you see flashes. I think Justin Robinson has improved dramatically. I think Jaylen Johnson is going to add to add to that group. Ladd McConkey has made some plays.”

Geogia starts its season with a big college football matchup against Clemson on Sept. 4.