Arik Gilbert withdraws from Florida to enter transfer portal

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Just over a month after former 5-star tight end Arik Gilbert announced his move to Florida, he has since abandoned the appointment.

Gilbert announced on Twitter that he is opting out and will announce his school of choice once he is officially enrolled in a school.

“I have decided to opt out of the University of Florida and return to the portal,” Gilbert tweeted. “I will not announce my final decision until I am enrolled in school and on campus.”

Gilbert spent his first season at LSU, catching 35 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns. The Marietta, Ga. Native was Georgia State’s top player for the 2020 recruiting cycle and the highest-rated tight end prospect in recruiting rankings history.

Considering the success Dan Mullen and Florida had with Kyle Pitts last season, Florida seemed like a rational landing point for Gilbert. Georgia was heavily involved in his recruiting out of high school, but he eventually signed with LSU. Georgia landed 5-star athlete Darnell Washington in the 2020 cycle. He caught seven passes for 166 yards in his first season.

Related: Arik Gilbert might have been a need for Georgia football, but he didn’t need a tight end room

The Bulldogs signed 4-star tight end Brock Bowers in the 2021 recruiting cycle and are heavily involved in recruiting the nation’s top tight end in the 2022 cycle to Oscar Delp.

One of the possible reasons Gilbert has reneged on his decision to go to Florida is that the NCAA has yet to approve the single transfer rule. There’s also the fact that the SEC has a rule that requires players transferred within the conference not to participate in a season, even if they get an NCAA waiver. The league has waived this rule for the 2020 season and pointed to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic as to why.

Related: Dreshun Miller Commits To Auburn, Which Is Why Kirby Smart Laughs At Transfer Portal Fascination

Florida have done very well on the transfer portal in recent seasons under Mullen, landing former 5-star rookies such as defensive end Brenton Cox and running back DeMarcus Bowman. Florida must replace Pitts, along with their two other top wide receivers of the 2020. Florida will also have a new quarterback, as Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson face off to succeed Kyle Trask.

Gilbert’s news sparked a strong reaction from college football fans and members of the media on Sunday.

The Gators beat Georgia 44-28 last season. Pitts left the game in the second quarter but not before catching two passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. Georgia and Florida will play on October 30 in Jacksonville, Fla. This season.

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