Mark Gilbert is one of Duke football‘s emerging stars.
“I don‘t know if there‘s a better ball skills defensive back in the country. I think he‘s as good as it gets,” said Duke quarterback Daniel Jones.
The Blue Devil cornerback is a preseason All-America, unanimous preseason All-ACC selection and a candidate for the Jim Thorpe award, which honors the top defensive back in college football.
”I know that if it works against Mark. It’s probably going to work against most people,” Jones said.
But there‘s one thing you don‘t know: Gilbert edits and produces all of his highlight reels on YouTube.
Gilbert explained, “It was always an interest of mine to pick what clips I wanted, pick the music I want to go with it (and) make some clips with no sound and just make the music louder.”
Most of his teammates, including Jones, don’t know that Gilbert is pursuing a Certificate in Documentary Studies at Duke.
“I think you can see that side to him with his tattoos and his style. He‘s got a strong sense with the way he dresses,” said Jones.
Gilbert’s tattoos also illustrate his creative side.
“Body art (is) having something on you that means something. You can kind of make it your story,” said Gilbert.
Creativity runs in his family. His mom was in the music industry.
Gilbert added, “In our basement, she had a computer she would create her own songs on.”
Football is in his blood as well. Gilbert‘s uncles are Sean Gilbert, the third overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft, and Darrelle Revis, the 14th overall pick in the 2007 draft.
“I have a lineage of football in my family. There‘s kind of some shoes to fill, but I just want to be great,” said Gilbert.
While making it to the NFL like his uncles comes first, don‘t be surprised if Gilbert is directing films one day.
Gilbert said, “I can definitely see myself in that field.”