Kirby Smart explains Georgia TE Arik Gilbert's absence at South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Georgia obliterated South Carolina 48-7 on Saturday in its SEC Opener and it did so without the services of redshirt sophomore tight end Arik Gilbert. The Marietta High School product did not make the trip with the team and afterward, Kirby Smart shed some light on his absence.
“All I can say is he didn’t make the trip for personal reasons,” Smart said after the game. “Hoping he gets back with us.”
Arik Gilbert began his college football career at LSU in 2020. The Peach State product eschewed an opportunity to play for the Bulldogs coming out of high school. His recruitment came down to Alabama and LSU.
He caught 35 passes for 368 yards and two scores that season for the defending National Champions. Gilbert also didn’t finish the season, opting out of the final two games.
When that season was in the books, Arik Gilbert entered the transfer portal. He initially committed to Florida but backed off that pledge.
He then chose Georgia as his new home in summer of 2021 and enrolled. Gilbert was with the team in June and July but he left the program after few days of preseason camp. He did not return until early 2022 where he went through spring drills with the team.
Georgia had Gilbert on the practice field throughout spring and preseason camp. He appeared in the team’s first two games with approximately 25 snaps combined in those games. He has yet to register his first catch in a UGA uniform.
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This isn’t the first time Smart has indicated that something might be going on with Gilbert. When the third-year player didn’t play much against Oregon, Smart pointed to a lack of consistency. He was asked about Arik Gilbert earlier this week where he gave a relatively terse response
“It’s really based on Arik’s performance… It’s all based on how he practices and carries out the game plan,” Smart said.
The Bulldogs had no trouble taking down the Gamecocks without Arik Gilbert due in large part to the play of its tight ends. Sophomore Brock Bowers put on a show with five catches for 121 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown.
True freshman Oscar Delp caught the first two passes of his UGA career with the first going for a 28-yard touchdown. Darnell Washington hauled in one pass for 15 yards. In all, Georgia’s tight ends caught eight passes for 168 yards and three scores.
Smart’s comments on Saturday seem to indicate that Gilbert might not be on the field for the Bulldogs in the near future. Next up is a home contest with Kent State. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on The SEC Network.
