In his roughly two seasons as Alabama’s boundary starter opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry, offenses liked to challenge Terrion Arnold. They targeted his assignment on go-routes, back-shoulder fades, anything to avoid McKinstry, who many believed was the lockdown player in the Southeastern Conference. Arnold loved it when the ball came his way.

Last fall, 12 cornerbacks were targeted at least 75 times, per Pro Football Focus. Arnold was the second highest-graded among them. His five interceptions were the most of any player getting thrown at as often as he was. Arnold said he smiles for two reasons when he recognizes a play or route; His hard work paying off in real-time matched the joy of knowing opportunity approached.

Bryant-Denny Stadium featured Arnold’s wide grin often. He brought it with him to the NFL scouting combine this week.

Holding court in the prime real estate of the Indiana Convention Center — podium No. 4, where players with the largest media following gave interviews — Arnold knew again what was coming. He delivered with sound bites of his “Michael Jordan” moment. When asked how he’d rate himself in a video game if he were still at Alabama, Arnold quickly responded “99, though I know the NCAA may try to play with me.” He credited multiple past influences, mainly his grandfather, a roofer who helped instill confidence in the 20-year-old projected first-round pick.

“Any time I line up, it doesn’t matter who I’m going against, I’m coming to dominate. We’re all at the combine, you’re here, eyes are on me and I perform,” Arnold said. “… I humble myself. I treat everybody with respect, I know to treat the janitor like the CEO. You never know who you come in contact with. At the end of the day, you just want to give your family a good last name and leave a legacy.”

A good week in Indianapolis won’t be too impactful in Arnold’s quest of dawning a gold Hall of Fame jacket one day. The combine has become a media showcase for the league and an information marketplace over cocktails at St. Elmo and Prime 47. Yet, Arnold was personable and engaging in front of a microphone and during team meetings. He was one of the stars that took the field in Lucas Oil Stadium. A mix of charm and efficient cornerback play that introduced the Tallahassee, Florida native to a national audience. He may have earned millions of dollars in the process.

In an era where every athlete has a brand and that brand must correlate with a team’s brand to lead to more branding, Arnold told AL.com he understood. His authenticity can elevate him in the eyes of scouts and general managers, leading to a higher draft position. If anything, it incentivizes him to be his true self.

“I was raised to kinda have that presence, treat people how you want to be treated,” Arnold said. “I walk in, I have a certain presence. I’m smiling, I’m making you want to be around me. It’s all about building people up. That’s the type of guy I am and that’s the kind of player I am.”

As Darin White would tell his students, Arnold has cultivated a successful “brand of you.” A marketing professor at Samford University, White helped pair the school’s business school with a sports analytics center. As executive director of the industry’s first such program, and with two degrees from Alabama, White likes to joke Samford sent more graduates to the NFL than Nick Saban did one year.

White agreed with pundits that the combine is more than just a job interview in athletic gear. Players can undergo “psychological testing” when meeting with teams. Patriots scouting director Eliot Wolf stressed the value of body language. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski says his quarterbacks are fined for having their palms up on the field. A player won’t be selected on how they carry themselves alone, but it’s a possible differentiator when assessing clubhouse culture.

Arnold and quarterback Jalen Milroe were the emotional core of Saban’s final team. Their “LANK” acronym (Let A Naysayer Know) started as a joke between close friends, then a rallying cry after a Week 2 loss against Texas. It eventually became a merchandising outlet. Arnold took a similar mindset into the combine, where he tried to prove himself as the best cornerback along with Iowa’s Cooper DeJean and Clemson’s Nate Wiggins.

“Normally when we go out and do an interview you always want to put your best foot forward and be the perfect person,” White said. “You’re trying to think about ‘What do they want me to be?’ And then you try to be that. It’s a little different way of thinking almost. It’s more like, ‘Here’s who I am. I’m comfortable in my own skin. This is who I am. I’m gonna be the authentic me and boy, I hope it works for you.’ It will with some and it won’t with others.”

Arnold developed a bit of a reputation for talking smack to pass catchers with Alabama — “LANK-ing them,” according to Arnold. The same bravado carried over to his meetings with NFL teams. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon asked Arnold for a hands-on example of his pressing ability off the line of scrimmage. After making sure he understood the request, Arnold hit him and successfully jammed a potential future employer. When Arnold walked into the Oakland Raiders room, head coach Antonio Pierce asked if Arnold was “an energetic person.”

Arnold’s response? “You know I am, man. Cut up the tape.”

He revealed many stories during his news conference, but perhaps the best was recalling his lowest moment: Alabama’s historic 52-49 loss to Tennessee in 2022. The Tide allowed its most points in a century and Arnold was benched. Arnold then began each day with a note to himself that he wouldn’t let that happen again. Teammate Jermaine Burton said Arnold “slowly transitioned” into a professional. And though he drew the ire of Saban on the sidelines at times, Arnold was a valuable piece to the secondary, sometimes rotating into the slot.

During Thursday field workouts in Indianapolis, Arnold had another moment. After cameras followed him for most of the event, Arnold settled next to NFL Network’s Stacey Dales. He evaluated his film in between each deep breath. He joked about his failed flip into the end zone after a gauntlet drill. He told teams they would get a “good player and better person.” He praised his mom and delivered a message that swelled the eyes of viewers. The clip has been viewed more than 1 million times on X.

“Mom, like I always told you, you raised a star,” Arnold said before requesting the camera zoom closer to his face. ” … I just want to say Tamala Arnold, I love you. I mean, I’m right here. The whole world is watching. I’m blessed to have you as a mom. You overcame a lot. And with that being said, I’m gonna continue to keep shining, just how you raised me to be.”

The lights got brighter, and Arnold revealed more of what was already there.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].