Savannah State TE Arik Gilbert the former 5-star recruit arrested for shoplifting and obstruction

Former five-star football recruit Arik Gilbert — once considered one of the nation’s most promising tight end prospects — has been arrested again, this time in Georgia, on charges of shoplifting and obstruction, according to Chatham County jail records. The Savannah State redshirt sophomore is currently being held on a $3,500 bond.

The arrest adds to a growing list of legal troubles that have derailed Gilbert’s once-bright career. The former Gatorade National Player of the Year has struggled to stay on the field amid a string of off-field incidents and multiple college transfers.

In 2023, while a member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Gilbert was arrested for allegedly burglarizing a liquor and vape shop. He later entered a no-contest plea, and the charges were reduced to trespassing and criminal mischief. Only weeks later, he faced another arrest in Lumpkin County, Georgia, in connection with a separate smash-and-grab burglary and for allegedly obstructing law enforcement officers.

Gilbert’s college journey began at LSU, where he showcased elite potential as a freshman, recording 35 receptions for 368 yards and two touchdowns in just eight games. He briefly announced a transfer to Florida in 2021 before landing at Georgia later that year. Gilbert did not appear for the Bulldogs during the 2021 season but returned in 2022, catching two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown over three games.

He transferred to Nebraska ahead of the 2023 campaign but never took the field for the Cornhuskers. Now at Savannah State, Gilbert’s latest arrest casts further doubt on whether the once-heralded recruit can reclaim his football future.