The Nebraska Cornhuskers are starting the 2023-24 college football season off on a sour note, as tight end Arik Gilbert has been arrested on burglary charges.
Gilbert was taken into custody in Lancaster County after an incident overnight on Tuesday, August 29, just two days before the team's season opener against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Mitch Sherman of The Athletic reported that Gilbert was arrested at a liquor and vape shop in Lincoln, Nebraska. He had over $1,600 worth of vape products, Delta 8, cigars, and lighters.
Nebraska tight end Arik Gilbert was arrested without incident shortly before 2 a.m. this morning at SJ's Liquor and Vape Shop in Lincoln. He was apprehended by officers while carrying a bag that contained $1,672 in vape products, Delta 8, cigars and lighters.
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) August 29, 2023
It's unclear whether Gilbert will play this season. He's seeking a waiver so he can be eligible to play.
Gilbert started playing college football in 2020 with LSU. He had 35 receptions for 368 yards and two scores before heading to Georgia.
In 2022, Gilbert had two catches with the team before heading to Nebraska.
Per 247Sports, Giblert was the fifth-best player in the country coming out of the 2020 recruiting class. Expectations were high for the talented tight end transferring from LSU to Georgia, but Gilbert had a negligible impact playing behind two of the most impactful tight ends in college football in Brock Bowers and Darnell Washington.
Given the talent on Georgia's roster and Bowers playing (likely) one final college football season, Gilbert likely transferred for an opportunity to see playing time with the Cornhuskers. Unfortunately, an incident like this will now put Gilbert's shot at seeing the field in jeopardy depending on how Nebraska's athletic department wants to handle the situation.
For a player who was once considered a future NFL playmaker, Gilbert's future is football is suddenly in jeopardy following this arrest. For the Cornhuskers, they'll now have to rely on other incoming transfers, including former Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims, to pick up the slack and give the Nebraska's offense a much-needed spark.
