Arik Gilbert is a name for Clemson fans to know.

The budding star from College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy is just beginning his recruiting process as a freshman, but already possesses offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, N.C. State, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Gilbert is on pace to become a national recruit, with many more offers in store for him, and the 6-foot-5, 230-pound athlete looks the part.

He visited Clemson three times last fall for the N.C. State, Syracuse and South Carolina games.

“I always like when I go up to Clemson,” Gilbert told The Clemson Insider recently. “Especially the games, all the energy, that’s probably one of the best schools I’ve been to for a game.”

Gilbert has a lot of upside as a college football prospect with his length, athleticism and ability.

He recently made a trip to Alabama and wants to see Florida.

He also wants to get back to Clemson for a camp so he can showcase his skills to the coaches.

“I want to go up there and go to one of the camps and just show them how I can move, because I don’t think they’ve seen me play live,” Gilbert said. “So I just want to go up there and show them what I can do.”

Gilbert is being recruited by Clemson assistant Danny Pearman, who has expressed interest.

“He has a lot of energy and he’s a really fun guy,” Gilbert said of Pearman. “He says he likes my size and what I can do because of my size.”

Gilbert is rated as a tight end by Rivals and an athlete by 247Sports and Scout. He projects to play tight end, defensive end or stand-up linebacker for a college program in the future.

He thinks Clemson is looking at him as a tight end right now.

“Probably tight end because I haven’t heard anything about D-end yet,” he said. “But I think tight end/slot, something like that.”

Gilbert got his first five offers in a span of 10 days last July from Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. He said he’s hearing the most from the in-state Bulldogs.

Moving forward, he’s hoping to hear more from Clemson.

“I like the academics as well,” he said. “Also how they treat me when I’m up there. And Clemson, I just like their energy and the campus.”