ALLEN PARK — It’s easy to see why cornerback Terrion Arnold is Dan Campbell’s kind of guy. The Detroit Lions’ first-round pick, a cornerback from Alabama, exudes confidence and commitment to winning.
Arnold met with the media at the Lions facility on Friday, after being selected on Thursday night with the 24th overall pick. He brought alone eight members of his family.
While he just turned 21 in March, Arnold seems mature beyond that.
“I envision myself as coming in here humble and just open to learn. I don’t think I know everything. I don’t want to come in here and be that rookie who thinks he’s going to start, I know I’m going to have to work for everything,’’ Arnold said. “I want to learn from the best. Even in the locker room I was in there with some of the veterans they said they were grateful to have me here, they welcomed me with open arms. … I don’t want to come off as arrogant. I want to come off as confident but not arrogant, I want to show them I’m eager to learn, to develop.’’
Lions GM Brad Holmes moved up five spots to draft him.
“They traded up to select me, I’ll always be grateful for that and I won’t take it for granted. I’m already coming in here with a chip on my shoulder, it’s just going to be that much of a chip on my shoulder,’’ Arnold said. “I saw St. Brown today and I just asked him when can we get on the Jugg machine. I feel like I’m a workaholic, nothing is going to be given to me.’’
Arnold paid some attention to the Lions last year because he was teammates at Alabama with nickel Brian Branch (second-round 2023), running back Jahmyr Gibbs (first-round 2023) and wide receiver Jameson Williams (first-round 2022).
“It shows that Coach (Aaron) Glenn, he allows players to go out there and play. In my meeting with him earlier he was like he’s going to develop me into being a better player,’’ Arnold said. “At the end of the day we’re young players, my ceiling is very high and just to show up every day with a willingness to work , putting in overtime, you’ll get success in this game they saw football reveals character.’’’
It’s not really a coincidence that Lions GM Brad Holmes has draft Alabama players in the first round of three straight drafts. Coach Nick Saban prepares his players for life beyond college.
“Just being around (Saban) I learned something new every day,’’ Arnold said. “Whether that was you’ve got to be able to take hard coaching, be able to take constructive criticism or you have to apply the right technique or it’s hot outside and you don’t really want to do it but you have to go out there and do it to the way he wants to execute it. I really learned how to become a professional before becoming a professional around coach Saban.’’
(Rounds 2-3 start at 7 p.m. on Friday. The draft wraps on Saturday with rounds 4-7 starting at noon.)
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