An in depth and complete scouting report and draft prospect profile of Alabama Defensive Back Terrion Arnold for the NFL Draft.

Prospect: Terrion Arnold

School: Alabama

Age: 20 (21 on Draft Day)

Terrion Arnold Measurables:

• Height: 6’ (NFL Combine)
• Weight: 189 (NFL Combine)

• 40: 4.5 (NFL Combine)
• 10 Yard Split: 1.54 (NFL Combine
• Vertical Jump: 37” (NFL Combine)
• Broad Jump: 10’9” (NFL Combine)
• Other Notes:
  • Measure in 7 lbs lighter at Combine than ESPN had listed 
  • Terrion Arnold 40 isn’t as shocking as it will be to others. It sounded like people though he was going to run 4.4’s or faster, 4.5 is maybe a hair slower than we would’ve thought but roughly right 
  • Terrion Arnold rep in box drill not great. Had to restart and then still stumbled

Tape Watched: Arkansas, LSU, Georgia

Prospect Grade: 67% with upside

Projected Draft Day: Mid Round 1

Player Comparison: Ceiling: Devon Witherspoon; Floor: Brandon Stephens

Best Team Fits: Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders

Terrion Arnold Player Summary:

The  Positives

• Can play inside or out
• Block shedding not bad for a CB
• Secondary versatility
  • He’s a converted safety, but also played some safety for the Tide
    • Upside to be had since he’s only been a CB for a couple years not
• Plays with a attitude and a demeanor you just don’t really see from CBs often
• Fills the stat sheets
  • 63 TOT Tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 5 INT, 12 PDs in 2023
• INT in LSU game shows ball awareness
• Pretty sound tackling, but will also lay you out if presented the opportunity

The Negatives

• Tackles low, but can slip off at times
• Potential mental errors?
  • There were a couple plays in the LSU game where it looked like Arnold man would cross face and run across the middle of the field wide open. In both cases it looked like man, but he carried #2 vertical, like you would in zone, thinking someone else would pick up the crosser, but then would spring trying to catch up. 
• Can get a little grabby when beat
• Footwork is okay, but could definitely be improved upon

Side Notes:

• Should’ve had another sack in the Arkansas game. Slipped off Jefferson after a strong fight to try to bring him down
• Would like to see him pressed more than he did at Bama. Played a decent amount of off coverage, and it felt like he flashed more closer to the line

Terrion Arnold is one of the top prospects in this year’s class. He plays with a demeanor that you don’t see from CBs very often. He’s active against the run, he hits, and he’s solid in coverage. He can match and mirror receivers and has the ability to break on routes and with receivers. We would’ve liked to have seen him pressed more than off because it really felt like that’s when he shined the brightest. 

Updated 4/5/24: Everything from our original summary of Arnold holds true. The only thing we want to add is that with the inexperience at the CB spot, he tends to get a bit grabby when he’s beat and his footwork could definitely use some improvement. We are also going to classify Arnold as a Nickel. That does not mean he can’t play CB. We believe he absolutely can, but with his history of being a safety and watching how he plays, we truly believe he could THRIVE in the slot. Outside CB in base, and nickel in packages. 

Updated 4/5/24:

• Combine numbers and rank added to measurable portion of profile
• Grade changed from “70%” to “67% with upside”
  • Just to explain. In our eyes Arnold’s grade isn’t truly going down. Again if you read in our profile, Arnold is a converted safety. Arnold is still a top CB in this class, but we don’t just want to come out and say he’s here(pro bowler) now. Truthfully, Arnold could use more development as a corner due to lack of experience, but off the bat we think he’ll still be a great starter, but the upside leaves the door open to Pro Bowls and All-Pros without saying that’s where he is now. 
• Projections switched from “Day 1” to “Mid Round 1”
• Comp changed from “Devon Witherspoon” to “Ceiling: Devon Witherspoon; Floor: Brandon Stephens”
  • Similar to the grade change. This is more us realizing that due to lack of experience at CB, he may not come out his rookie year and be the caliber player Witherspoon was. That being said, that level of caliber is still 100% on the table. We added the Brandon Stephens floor because Arnold could “struggle” his first couple years before truly coming into his own. Stephens, especially with the way he played this year, shows the floor is still pretty high for Arnold. 
• Negatives Added
  • Can get a little grabby when beat
  • Footwork is okay, but could definitely be improved upon