Nick Saban smiled every time an Alabama player was picked on Thursday, but it’s evident he has a soft spot for Terrion Arnold.
The Detroit Lions drafted the Crimson Tide’s All-America cornerback 24th overall, making him the third Alabama player taken in the first round. Saban spoke to Arnold as “a special guy,” citing his personal charisma as much as his athletic ability.
“He’s got a great personality,” Saban said during ABC’s NFL draft coverage. “He started the whole ‘LANK’ thing — ‘Let A Naysayer Know.’ And he sort of followed it and really committed himself to being the best player he could be, being a leader on the team.
“This guy is Ms. Terry’s favorite. He comes to our house and plays rummy. He sits right beside me in the defensive meeting every day.”
Arnold, who wore a pink suit with silver floral inlays and LANK embroidered inside the jacket to Thursday’s draft, was a first-team All-American a and All-SEC pick as a redshirt freshman in 2023. He could play multiple defensive back positions in the NFL, Saban said.
“Terrion has all the tools to be a really good corner,” Saban said. “He can play man-to-man, he can play the ball in the deep part of the field and he’s a good tackler. He’s aggressive, he can play in the slot. I think he can also play nickel. … He can play press and closer to the line. He’s a good tackler. So all the critical factors for a DB, he’s really good at.”
