Georgia tight end Arik Gilbert enters name in NCAA transfer portal

ATHENS — Georgia tight end Arik Gilbert has entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal, per the On3 transfer portal report.

Gilbert, a former 5-star prospect from Marietta, began his career at LSU before transferring to Georgia prior to the 2021 season.

DawgNation reported earlier on Wednesday that Gilbert was expected to enter his name in the portal in what quickly became an eventful early signing day across the country.

Gilbert had struggled to get up to speed in fall drills, even with Coach Kirby Smart working to provide as much extra incentive and individual attention as possible.

The Bulldogs bring back All-American tight end Brock Bowers at the position next season and rising sophomore Oscar Delp is expected to be ready to contribute more significantly.

Georgia junior tight end Darnell Washington has recently been projected as high as the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and is expected to declare himself eligible for the draft after the No 1-ranked Bulldogs conclude their CFP run.

Georgia plays Ohio State at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31 in the CFP Peach Bowl Semifinal in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The Bulldogs had two 4-star tight ends sign with the program on Wednesday, Lawson Luckie and Pearce Spurlin.

Gilbert sat out the first year in Athens while dealing with personal issues and played in three of the Bulldogs’ 13 games this season.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Gilbert had two catches for 16 yards including a touchdown in Georgia’s win over Vanderbilt.

WATCH: Arik Gilbert makes first catches in a game as a Georgia Bulldog

Gilbert was a Freshman All-SEC selection at LSU, starting all eight games he played for former Tigers’ coach Ed Orgeron and catching 35 passes for 368 yards with 2 TDs.

Smart has said several times over he was prioritizing Gilbert’s health over his playing status with the Bulldogs and maintained hope he could find his way back on the field.

It appears that Gilbert’s next football step will take place somewhere else.

Reserve defensive tackle Bill Norton, who has transferred to Arizona, is the only other Georgia player off of the 2022 team to enter his name in the NCAA portal.

The Bulldogs had 13 players leave via the transfer portal last season, including four former starters.