Terrion Arnold on his versatility: 'I can line up at nose guard if I gotta play there'

Terrion Arnold has said all the right things since being drafted by the Detroit Lions, and it’s evident he’s a versatile player entering his rookie season.

The former Alabama Crimson Tide defender can lineup anywhere in the secondary, but it’s evident he’s not limiting himself. It was a tongue-in-cheek moment, but Arnold let reporters know he’ll do whatever he can for the Lions, even if that means lining up along the defensive line for Detroit.

“I’m more comfortable anywhere,” Arnold said, regarding whether he prefers to cover the left or right side of the field. “I don’t consider myself a cornerback. I consider myself a defensive player. I can play anywhere on the field. I can even line up at nose guard, if I’ve got to lineup there.

“But I mean, playing football, it’s something I’ve been doing as a kid. Like, I keep saying the same, but I’m happy to be out here. I really am.”

We’re not doubting Arnold’s abilities on the field, but it’s a sure bet he won’t lineup across from the center, unless Dan Campbell skips coaching for a week. Nevertheless, the Lions will be happy to keep him on the field as much as he’d like to be.

Arnold ended the 2022 season with 45 tackles, nine defended passes, one tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, and one interception, but took his game to another level in 2023. Leading the SEC with five interceptions and 17 pass breakups along with 63 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a sack.

Those are gaudy numbers, and that’s why the Lions traded up for Terrion Arnold. He’ll be looking to make an explosive impact in his rookie season for Detroit in 2024.

Terrion Arnold explains why he commends Kalen DeBoer so much

Former Alabama Crimson Tide defender Terrion Arnold may have moved on from Tuscaloosa, but it’s evident he has a lot of love for Kalen DeBoer.

He’ll never get to play for DeBoer, as Arnold spent his time with the Crimson Tide before the NFL with Nick Saban, but Arnold joined The Paul Finebaum Show earlier last month to explain why he believes DeBoer will do a commendable job with Alabama, after Saban’s retirement.

“Coach DeBoer, I commend the man because he has a strong sense of will,” Arnold told Finebaum. “And anybody who takes that job after Coach Saban, man, as they will say, that guy has — man, he’s special because that’s a hard job to take. That’s all you got to say. But with Coach DeBoer, I got a chance to really talk to him. I addressed the team a couple of times and talked to them, and I just told the team to just love and appreciate the situation that they’re in because it goes fast and I was just in in their shoes, man, literally two, three months ago. So with that new coach, I think is going to be exciting. 

“I mean, you know, coming from where you came from with the Pac-12, he’s used to scoring a lot of points. Jalen Milroe, that’s my best friend. Him at quarterback. He has the right guy to do it. So I think they’re going to be an exciting team to watch. Obviously defensive players and defensive backs, guys like Malachi Moore, Deontae Lawson. I mean, they’re going to be exciting to watch too.”

So far, so good for DeBoer. He hasn’t coached Alabama is an actual game yet, but the former Washington Huskies coach has received rave reviews from current and former Crimson Tide players alike. Nevertheless, it’ll all come down to the wins and losses, as it always does.