Detroit Lions corner Terrion Arnold is celebrating breaking up a pass Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Former Alabama Star Reveals Truth About NIL

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nazario Pangallo | Last updated Apr 18, 2025 2:21 PM ET

College athletics have never been the same since 2021, the year that NIL was legalized. During that 2021 season, Alabama football went 11-1, winning the SEC Championship before losing the national title to Georgia.

Just a freshman during that season, cornerback Terrion Arnold chose to come to Alabama for a reason other than NIL.

"I knew the bag was coming in the NFL," Arnold said. "NIL, I feel like it's like a temporary fast...I knew my long-term goal for me, I wanna be the greatest to ever play this game, one of the greatest to ever play the game. This (NIL) is short, temporary cash."

Arnold made a guest appearance on Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams' podcast, where he shared his advice.

During his freshman season, Arnold didn't see any snaps, but unlike many players nowadays who resort to the portal for playing time, Arnold stuck it out. In his sophomore season, he saw a step up in playing time and finished with 45 tackles and an interception.

His junior season, which was his final in Tuscaloosa, was where he exploded. Arnold finished the 2023 season with 63 tackles, 12 pass deflections, and five interceptions while leading Alabama to another SEC title.

Following his junior season, Arnold entered his name into the NFL Draft, where the Detroit Lions selected him with the 24th pick of the first round. While Arnold is still on his rookie contract, which will pay him $14 million over four years, the former Alabama star is set to cash in after a stellar rookie season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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