Two of Alabama’s top defensive targets in the 2021 recruiting class will team up next season as seniors.
2021 4-Star athlete, Xavian Sorey, will transfer to St. John Paul II Catholic High School this upcoming season and team up with Alabama’s 4-Star defensive back target, Terrion Arnold. The Tide hosted both guys in February for its first Junior day event and are heavily recruiting both of them. Arnold said he feels teaming up with Sorey will benefit his game a ton and could be a preview of an upcoming decision for the both of them.
“We have the same caliber of schools recruiting us and we could go to the same college together,” Arnold said. “As far as playing with him, he is humble just like me and he loves to work. I think we go hand and hand together. I play defensive back and he plays linebacker and running back. I also play wide receiver.”
The two do plan to take visits together this season.
Alabama basketball extended an offer to Arnold recently and he will have the opportunity to play both sports if he chooses to sign with the Tide. Under the NCAA rule, Arnold will only be allowed to have a scholarship in one sport, which means Tide men’s basketball will not have to give him a scholarship. Former Alabama point guard and current Cleveland Cavalier, Colin Sexton, has Arnold really wanting to take a look at Alabama in basketball as well.
“I think Colin Sexton really painted the picture for me of how strong the SEC is in basketball,” Arnold said. “Their new coaching staff has really painted the picture of how they can and plan to use me. I think it is a great opportunity. It is really a great chance to build my brand, dominate basketball and football.”
Arnold is aware of the pressure and the time, that will go into attempting to play two sports at the college level. The 4-Star recruit said he feels a player with have to have balance and a different mindset to succeed in doing so.
“It can be beneficial and at the same time, it can hurt you if you not benefitting from it,” Arnold added. “If you are not benefitting from it and it is taking away from your main sport, it can be a downfall. You really have to play your cards right and have great time management. You can not really live that normal football player life because after practice you need to be putting up shots.”
Nick Saban will look to be one of Arnold’s main supporters on the hardwood if Alabama is his landing spot. The six-time National Championship winning coach is an avid basketball fan and still plays from time to time.
“He already said I am on his 3 on 3 team,” Arnold said. “We joked about that and he told me I am a really talented kid. He told me I can accomplish it and do not believe what the haters and the doubters say. He said I really have faith in you. That was pretty big coming from him.”
As a junior, Arnold had a great season playing the safety position along with lining up as a wideout. A big senior season in the works for him on the hardwood and on the gridiron as he sticks to a strict workout schedule.
“I wake up at 5:30 and we go to the track,” Arnold said. “After the track workout, we have a 12:00 lift. I have basketball at 4:30. After basketball, I do some DB workouts. We wrap everything up with a late-night lift.”
WATCH TERRION ARNOLD’s HIGHLIGHTS BELOW:
It will be interesting to watch Alabama continue to recruit Arnold in basketball and football along with his new teammate, Sorey.
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Justin Smith is a Scouting/Recruiting analyst for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via @Jdsmith31Smith
