Nebraska has received a pledge from the former five-star tight end Arike Gilberta source confirmed to Husker247.
Gilbert was visiting Lincoln over the weekend and is listed on the UNL student registry, with classes for the next Lincoln semester starting on Monday.
Coming out of the Georgia program, Gilbert caught two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown last year. He was the No. 5 overall recruit in the 2020 class – the country’s best tight end this cycle. It’s actually the best overall score for a close ending in the history of recruitment rankings.
He began his career at LSU and then transferred to Georgia in the summer of 2021. He left the UGA squad in the fall of that season but returned in January.
He had 35 catches for 368 yards and 2 TDs at LSU in 2020. He averaged over 10 yards per catch this season.
Gilbert is the second signing Nebraska has landed from Georgia this week and joins the full-back MJ Sherman.
That gives Nebraska the top two tight-end recruits in both the 2020 and 2021 cycles, factoring that in Thomas Fidonewho is hoping to make a splash after a couple of injury-plagued seasons.
Gilbert offers a 6-5, 248-pound frame and would join a husker position that’s wide open for people to make a move, with Travis Vokolek ending his eligibility last season.
The most experienced players returning at this point are Chris Hickman and Nate Boerkircher, with Fidone hoping to make a push, as well as players like AJ Rollins and James Carnie, among others.
The Huskers will also host a tight finish this weekend Ishmael Smith Flores from Arlington, Texas. The prospect played for a season in high school for new NU tight ends coach Bob Wager, who was announced earlier this month as the new manager of this room.