Gilbert signs of Piatry with Jacksonville – Sentinel of Jackson County

Two -time Pisgah Luke Gilbert footballer has attracted a lot of attention from college programs in the last few seasons, but there was a tall one in his list that never made an offer.

In December, Gilbert engaged in UAB, where he was designed as a linear player.

But shortly after the school, which was high on the list of wishes of Gilbert, underwent a coaching change as Charles Kelly took the state of Jacksonville after Rich Rodriguez left the main coach in West Virginia. Kelly and his new staff quickly began a strong impetus to Gilbert, a player who envisaged as a game of play, a narrow end in Gamecocks’ offense.

“I went to three JSU visits, but the old staff never offered me,” Gilbert said. “I engaged with the UAB, and then Jacksonville received new staff, and almost as soon as the new staff came in, many coaches from there began to send me text messages and made me visit. I had a great time, ”Gilbert said. “I still had an official visit to the UAB to go, so I went and had a great time there. So I was somehow unspecified afterwards. So I prayed for this and the decision appeared. I know JSU is where I have to be. “

Gilbert announced his UAB engagement switch to Jacksonville on February 1, and on Wednesday, he officially became a signing JSU during a PIGE high school signing ceremony.

“I’m glad to start working,” said Gilbert, who eventually chose Gamecocks for offers from UAB, UNA, Murray State and Eastern Kentucky. “This is a different type of work for this level of football. I mentally said to myself again and again that it would be difficult. But I’m ready to get to work after basketball (season). “

Gilbert is the first signature I/FBS signature of Pisgah since Ray Maxwell signed with the University of Alabama in 1971 and third of all time along with Maxwell and Roger Proutee, who signed with Obnon in 1969.

“Football is part of my whole life,” Gilbert said. “My father has been a coach all his life. I just fell in love with him. I have never seen doing this (in college) in the younger years because I was a good player, but I was never excellent. But then I grew up a little and started working very hard and became achievable because I did it. Yes I can do this, I do not take this for granted. “

Gilbert was a five -year -old player of Varsiti in Pks, arriving before his eight -grade year after his father Adam Gilbert returned to his Alma Mater after training the main coach in the Northern Sand Mountain and Arabic and offensive coordinator in Scotsborough.

“I love this place,” said Luke Gilbert. “My family has been living here for generations. I couldn’t ask for a better community. I love the farm we have I work on him constantly, I like him, this is what I want to do when I get old. Come here was a great opportunity for us to return to the family and live more than the life of the home. “

It also turned out to be a great football opportunity, as Gilbert helped the Eagles to gather the largest four-year run in the football history of Praise. During this period, the eagles were 41-11 with two championships in the 7th grade 2 region, three state quarterfinal participations and two state semi-final participations.

“Coming as an eighth -grader, we all threw ourselves into the fire. But she paid off, ”Gilbert said. “It was a great running. We never got to the “goal”, but when I look back at it, I see that what we did here was quite amazing. “

Added Adam Gilbert, “These are memories that I will always appreciate. As a play player, not only onions, but all the playmakers-I said a lot, we have five or six boys who had to touch the ball 20 times a game. He was a leader. As his roles changed, he always adapted to him. Last year, as a defender, he was not a defender, but did what he had to do. He always put the team first and did what he had to do to make us successful. As a coach who makes you proud and make you proud as a dad. “

Gilbert played his first four seasons before making a defender moving in the 2024 season, ending with 1444 fast yards and 21 touchdowns until he finished 87 of 144 missed for 1564 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also caught a touch gap, there were two sensors to return Punt and recorded 31 games and four intercepts from his position of defense safety. Gilbert was named ASWA First-Team All-State as an athlete, was a finalist of the ASWA Class 2a Back of the Year, was the 2A Region 7 MVP class and the Jackson County Co-MVP.

Gilbert has accumulated 6,303 yards and 79 offensive touchdown in the last four seasons, rushed to 2298 yards and 33 touchdowns to 252 worn, ending 134 of 224 misses for 2.175 yards and 21 touchdowns and capturing 93 passes for 1830 yards.

“I am proud of him – a special player, a special child,” said the head coach of Piece Luke Prut. “What he and the whole higher class, what they did for our program is legendary. He always made plays when we needed him. In today’s era of college football, it is difficult to go anywhere because of the transfer portal. So for him to sign everywhere, a much less go Division I is special. JSU receives an incredible football player, but they get a better person. “

Gilbert, who plans to specialize in the business, said he had found a similar environment in Jacksonville, only on a larger scale.

“I love JSU because the community is so engaged in it that reminds me a lot of letters,” he said. “Not only the colors in the school are the same.”