Arik Gilbert and Kole Taylor - a new breed of tights ends for LSU

Now that Gilbert and Taylor have committed, I figure this is a rant post, not a recruiting board post. Unlike most tight ends of the past, these guys did not come to LSU to block or convert to offensive tackles, they both came to catch passes. But for LSU's new offense, its safe to say neither of them would have come.

Gilbert is one of the few players you get that is truly physically mature enough to be SEC ready as a freshman. Julio Jones and Devin White are two others that come to mind who could physically compete immediately.

At 6'5" 250 lbs, Gilbert is a man-child. What is amazing about him if you watch his tape, is that he looks much more like a wide out running routes. He has a very lean look for a big man, carries his weight well. He is an nightmare mismatch, I can't see a Kary Vincent type nickel back covering him in the red zone.

He is the recruit I am most excited about. Joe Brady must be drooling at the thought of how to use Gilbert. He could be a generational talent at tight end.

I figured Kole Taylor was kept to eventually moved to tackle. But then I looked at his profile and read up on him. Taylor is 6' 7" 228 pounds, but doesn't have the look of a future tackle nor is he as physically mature as Gilbert. He will benefit from a couple years with Moffit.

That actually works out well for LSU. Gilbert is a three year player. Taylor could take a redshirt and might even be a five year player. One thing clear from his profile, he came to catch passes.

Now of course you want tight ends who can block. In the old LSU offense, that's most all they did. Now they do a lot more chip blocking, putting a quick shoulder on a rusher before heading into their routes.

Back to Gilbert. Those who have not watched his tape should. Seriously, you have to watch it to believe it. I cant think of LSU ever having anyone who looked like that coming out of high school.

And I remember one poster getting hammered for saying Gilbert could play defense. He would dominate as a rush end too, but he is ridiculous at tight end.

I dont think people realize how great Gilbert makes this class.

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