Arik Gilbert announced that he will switch from the LSU football program.
The LSU Tigers will have to look for another five-star ending at some point Arik Gilbert entered the transfer portal after just one season in Baton Rouge.
Gilbert was the No. 5 overall player in the 2020 recruiting class, according to the 247Sport Composite. A native of Marietta, Georgia, selected LSU from Alabama and Georgia during his high-profile recruiting process. In his lonely year at LSU, however, he got homesick. Wherever he lands, Gilbert will immediately improve any offense he joins for 2021. Where could he go?
Arik Gilbert has announced that he will enter the transfer portal
– Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 2, 2021
Arik Gilbert could switch to one of these programs
8th
Miami Hurricanes
ACC Coastal
The Miami Hurricanes are very much on the agenda among head coaches Manny Diaz. Add Rhett Lashlee when their offensive coordinator helped get a serious bite on the Canes offensive. While Coral Gables is a good distance from Marietta, they play in the same eastern time zone. He could go to Miami, which has a reputation for developing bottlenecks and where he made two unofficial visits.
7th
Penn State Nittany Lions
Big Ten east 
Distance is the biggest thing that works against the Penn State Nittany Lions. However head coach James Franklin has had strong recruiting relationships in the south since serving as head of the Vanderbilt Commodores. Since arriving at State College, Penn State has grown into a large professional football factory. This is an intriguing option for dark horses, but Gilbert made an unofficial visit as a recruit.
6th
Tennessee Volunteers
SEC east 
Keep an eye on the Tennessee Volunteers that fit Gilbert. His high school quarterback Harrison Bailey is expected to be the first week starter in Vols in 2021 after taking Super Senior’s job away Jarrett Guaranteeo. However, Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt is in the hot seat and Gilbert may not want to go to a second college whose football program may be on the move. Nonetheless, Gilbert attended Vols Junior Day and unofficially visited Knoxville again.
5
Again, distance could be an issue for Gilbert to travel to Norman, Oklahoma. But if he’s not really homesick, the Oklahoma Sooners could be a fantastic match for him. OU will be among the favorites to win the national title next year. Think about him catching balls Spencer Rattler in Lincoln Riley’s offense. If Mark Andrews can win that John MackeyGilbert, Oklahoma, where he paid an unofficial visit in April 2019.
4th
A stint in the SEC is definitely an option for Gilbert. Playing for a team like the Texas A&M Aggies might be more like what he expected when he was committed to the LSU. Jimbo Fisher made this program buzz, and we know it’s used effectively in the Aggies crime. However, from a karmic point of view, switching within the division may not be best. But College Station was a place he went to as a recruit, so there’s some interest there.
3
Alabama Crimson Tide
SEC west 
The other program in the SEC West that Gilbert could end up in is the Alabama Crimson Tide. Again, they were a finalist who landed him during his recruitment before signing up to LSU. If Gilbert went to Alabama, he would certainly play in the college football playoffs at least a few times. As with Texas A&M, he will burn many bridges and move on to one of LSU’s biggest rivals. Gilbert attended Alabama’s Junior Day, made some unofficial visits, and used one of his official visits to see Tuscaloosa. This could be a new home and at the same time deal a blow to the rival LSU.
2
Clemson Tigers
ACC Atlantic 
A team that would make a lot of sense to him would have to be the Clemson Tigers. Clemson, South Carolina, while not in Georgia, is right on the Georgia border an hour from his hometown of Marietta. As in Alabama, Gilbert played in the college football playoffs almost every year. This is a fantastic place for him. In fact, Gilbert made seven unofficial visits to Clemson as a recruit.
1
Georgia Bulldogs
SEC east 
The runaway favorite for Gilbert’s service is the Georgia Bulldogs. You were a finalist who landed him during his recruitment. Marietta is an hour and a half from Athens, Georgia. Though the Dawgs already have a five-star ending in the same recruitment cycle Darnell Washington, Head coach Kirby Smart left the door open for Gilbert to play for his home state team. Georgia was the first school to offer him, and it was the last official visit before he became involved with LSU.
There are other places he could land, such as the Florida Gators or the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. However, when Gilbert enters the transfer portal, it only confirms the likelihood that he will end up in a place like Georgia. While Clemson and Alabama could be in the mix to land him too, there are so many reasons the Dawgs are the runaway favorites to bring him home.
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