Alabama head coach Nick Saban knew he signed two talented athletes in the Crimson Tide’s 2021 recruiting class.
Both arrived as five-stars from different states; however, they are defensive starters on a team that controls the SEC West and wants a Southeastern Conference Championship. National media outlets see Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry as a potential top 10 selection in next year’s NFL Draft. He is second on the team in pass breakups (four), but his partner across from him could be the ‘best cornerback in the nation’ via his position coach. Travaris Robinson, Alabama’s secondary coach, has enjoyed Terrion Arnold’s growth as a cornerback. Arnold, a native of Tallahassee, Fla., was not a true corner in high school. He primarily played safety and was the best athlete on his team. Arnold was forced into action as a boundary cornerback in 2022, but he handled the challenge well. After making the Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-American teams, the sophomore’s confidence has grown.
Arnold is third on the team for total tackles (32) and has three tackles for loss, six pass breakups, and an interception.
He’s applied the technique from Robinson and takes in hard coaching from Nick Saban. Cole Cubelic and Roman Harper of SEC Network broke down what Robinson meant by viewing Arnold as the best cornerback in America one day.
“He is already on his way to it,” Cubelic said on Read and React to Robinson’s statement about Arnold.
Harper, a former Alabama safety, broke down a play Arnold made versus Texas A&M. Saban got onto Arnold about not timing up the blitz properly against Mississippi State, but he had a chance to make up for it at Kyle Field. Arnold stepped up on a motion play where he fought off the block of Ainias Smith, got penetration on a run blitz, and made a tackle for loss in the backfield.
He understood what Saban said and applied it on the field.
Arnold can become a high-round value cornerback if he continues to execute like he’s doing.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
