The Truth About Arik Gilbert

This young man was the Gatorade Player of the Year in high school. He had all the physical tools. He was playing as a full grown man among boys at Marietta. He never really had to work hard, never really had to mentally prepare for being at a higher level with bigger stronger faster guys. He had always just relied on his natural physical abilities.

The adjustment to the next level is one that is often shocking to late adolescents. Not just in sports. Academically, many smart kids coast through high school making straight A's and never really having to study, they were just really smart. Then they get to college, and get a reality check after their first semester that you can't just coast along like you did in high school. Some don't make it. Not because they are stupid, but they don't get over that hump, can't make that adjustment fast enough to avoid failing or dropping out.

Back to Arik Gilbert. He did not adjust well to the next level. Hurting him was all the hype around him. When a regular student gets a reality check of a C- on a test and he's never gotten less than an A his entire life, he's humbled but doesn't have 100,000 people watching him and making fun of him and shite talking him. It's up to the coaches and handlers to work through these things with the incoming freshmen athletes, especially the ones with the highest accolades. It's not a great mental space to be in.

Apparently LSU didn't do a very good job with this, and in hindsight, we see O and company had checked out around this time of Arik's struggles at LSU.

He wanted out. Lots of kids want out. Transfers are common now, not unique events.

He came back home to Georgia and continued to struggle. He was given time off from the team for mental health, yet still supported and helped daily. His scholly was never yanked. He never threatened to transfer. He just need time to heal and adjust.

The happy news is that now he's ready to go. Better than ever, physically and mentally.

Everyone who is a fan of college football should cheer this student athlete and root for his success. Arik isn't so different from most of us at some time in our lives, particularly that age.