LUMPKIN COUNTY, GEORGIA: Arik Gilbert, who was arrested twice in a span of three weeks on possible burglary charges, is currently being held in Georgia's Lumpkin County Jail after he was taken into custody on Friday, September 15.
Gilbert gained recognition as a highly regarded college football player as a tight end for Louisiana State University (LSU), and had an impressive Freshman season in 2020, earning him the title of Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Year.
Nebraska tight end Arik Gilbert faces second arrest in three weeks
Arik Gilbert was charged in connection to a smash-and-grab burglary in Lumpkin County, Georgia, and also for the obstruction of officers during his arrest, on September 15. This marks his second arrest in a span of three weeks.
The precise details surrounding the events leading to Gilbert's arrest, a Georgia native, remain undisclosed.
Notably, Gilbert had previously been arrested on August 29 in Lincoln, Nebraska, on a felony burglary charge, according to sportsyahoo.com
The earlier incident involved an alleged break-in at a liquor and vape shop, captured on surveillance footage, which showed an individual forcibly entering the establishment by kicking down its doors.
Law enforcement confronted Arik Gilbert as he was exiting a liquor and vape shop
During his earlier first arrest, authorities confronted Arik Gilbert as he attempted to exit, and they asserted that he had tried to pilfer merchandise exceeding $1,600 in value, including cigars and vape pens.
Following the arrest, Nebraska's head coach, Matt Rhule, made allusions to unspecified "issues" and "struggles" that Gilbert had been contending with.
"Obviously really disappointed, really sad for him. When we took Arik, we thought we knew that we had a good group of people that were going to help him through some of the issues that he’s dealing with in his life. I’d been really proud of the job he’d done this spring and summer," said Rhule.
He added, "To be honest, during camp, he’s had some struggles. He’s working to overcome them. We have a great group of people trying to help him, and then obviously last night happened."
Arik Gilbert's future in football is in jeopardy
The consecutive arrests have cast a shadow over Arik Gilbert's future in football, adding to what has already been a tumultuous career.
He initially gained prominence as one of the Top 10 recruits in the Class of 2020, as recognized by Rivals. Subsequently, Gilbert opted out of the remainder of the 2020 season.
The footballer then transferred to Georgia, where personal challenges led to his decision to sit out the entire 2021 season.
Although he made a brief return, participating in three games during Georgia's victorious national championship season, he recorded only two receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown.
Following the conclusion of that season, Gilbert made yet another transfer, this time to Nebraska.
To join the Huskers, Gilbert needed an NCAA waiver to attain immediate eligibility due to his second transfer. However, his first arrest has raised significant questions and uncertainties about his future, overshadowing his football career with more pressing concerns.
