Grayland Arnold

American football player (born 1997)

American football player
Grayland Arnold
refer to caption
Arnold with the 2020 Philadelphia Eagles
Personal information
Born: (1997-09-04) September 4, 1997 (age 26)
Kountze, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:187 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school:Kountze (Kountze, Texas)
College:Baylor
Position:Safety
Undrafted:2020
Career history
  • Philadelphia Eagles (2020)
  • Houston Texans (2021-2024)
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-Big 12 (2019)
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:33
Forced fumbles:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Grayland Arnold Jr. (born September 4, 1997) is an American football safety who is a free agent of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Baylor.

Early life and high school

Arnold attended Kountze High School. On the basketball court, he was a two-time All-State selection, District 23-3A Most Valuable Player and named of the top 15 basketball players in Texas. During his freshman year, former NFL player Frank Middleton, who was an assistant coach, convinced him to join the football team. Arnold ended up becoming an All-State selection at cornerback, in addition to earning District Offensive MVP honors as a quarterback and wide receiver.[1] He was a three-star prospect and committed to Baylor.[2]

College career

Arnold had nine tackles in a win against Boise State in the 2016 Cactus Bowl.[3] As a freshman at Baylor in 2016, Arnold started four of 11 games and tallied 20 tackles and four pass breakups. His sophomore season was hampered due to a broken arm which forced him to miss several games.[4] He finished the season with 35 tackles, seven pass break ups and an interception. As a junior in 2018, Arnold also suffered an ankle injury which ended the season after four games, forcing him to redshirt. He was named Big 12 Special Teams player of the week in week two of the 2019 season.[5] In 2019, Arnold ranked second in the Big 12 with six interceptions, and also recorded 46 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and two pass breakups.[4] He also averaged 12.4 yards on punt returns with one touchdown.[6] Arnold was named to the Second-team All-Big 12. Following the season, he announced he was forgoing his redshirt senior season and entering the NFL draft. In his career, Arnold had 107 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss and seven interceptions.[7] He was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.[8]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 9+1⁄8 in
(1.76 m) 		186 lb
(84 kg) 		29 in
(0.74 m) 		9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.59 s 1.51 s 2.71 s 4.30 s 7.01 s 33.0 in
(0.84 m)		 10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)		 12 reps
All values from NFL Combine[9][10]

Philadelphia Eagles

in the 2020 NFL Draft, Arnold signed a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on April 26, 2020.[6] He was named the Eagles' best undrafted free agent by CBS Sports, with scouts praising his versatility.[11] Arnold was waived on September 3, 2020,[12] and re-signed to the team's practice squad three days later.[13] Arnold was elevated to the active roster on September 26 for the team's week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.[14] He made his debut in the game, playing 12 snaps on special teams, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[15] Arnold was elevated again on October 3 for the week 4 game against the San Francisco 49ers, and reverted to the practice squad again following the game.[15] Arnold was promoted to the active roster on October 10, 2020.[16] He was waived on October 13 and re-signed to the practice squad two days later.[17][18] He was promoted to the active roster on December 1, 2020.[19]

On August 31, 2021, Arnold was waived by the Eagles and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[20][21] He was released on September 3.

Houston Texans

On September 15, 2021, Arnold was signed to the Houston Texans practice squad.[22] On December 11, Arnold was elevated to the active roster from the practice squad and made his debut against the Seattle Seahawks.[23] He was signed to the active roster on December 23.[24] On December 29, Arnold signed a contract extension with the Texans that runs through the 2022 season.[25] On January 3, 2022, Arnold was placed on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury in the team's week 16 game against the 49ers.[26]

On August 30, 2022, Arnold was waived by the Texans and signed to the practice squad the next day.[27][28] He was promoted to the active roster on October 1.[29] He was placed on injured reserve on November 3.[30] He was activated on December 23.[31]

Personal life

Arnold's older sister Gabriell Mattox played college basketball at Texas.[3]

References

  1. ^ Canizales, Nick (April 21, 2020). "Small town, big dreams for Grayland Arnold". KCENTV. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  2. ^ Roberts, Matt (April 15, 2020). "From a Small Town, With Big Dreams: Baylor's Arnold is Days Away From His Next Milestone". Fox 44 News. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Werner, John (September 18, 2019). "Loving the game: Healthy Arnold contributing in many ways for Baylor Bears". Waco Tribune-Herald. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Gibson, Destine (April 25, 2020). "Baylor selections on Day 3 of NFL draft: Grayland Arnold and other Bears sign as undrafted free agents". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  5. ^ Harkay, Jessika (September 18, 2019). "Football's Grayland Arnold leads by example". Baylor Lariat. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  6. ^ a b McPherson, Chris (April 26, 2020). "Eagles agree to terms with 13 undrafted free agents". Philadelphia Eagles.com. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  7. ^ Carlton, Chuck (January 8, 2020). "Baylor DB Grayland Arnold declares for NFL draft". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  8. ^ "Six Baylor Bears invited to NFL Combine". Waco Tribune-Herald. February 26, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  9. ^ "Grayland Arnold Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  10. ^ "2020 NFL Draft Scout Grayland Arnold College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  11. ^ Erby, Glenn (May 3, 2020). "Grayland Arnold named the Philadelphia Eagles best undrafted free agent". Eagles Wire. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  12. ^ Alper, Josh (September 3, 2020). "Eagles put Andre Dillard on IR, cut 12 players". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  13. ^ McPherson, Chris (September 6, 2020). "Eagles announce practice squad that includes QB Josh McCown". Philadelphia Eagles.com. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  14. ^ Johnson, Vaughn (September 26, 2020). "Eagles elevate DB Grayland Arnold, WR Deontay Burnett to the active roster". Philadelphia Eagles.com. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  15. ^ a b McPherson, Chris (October 3, 2020). "Eagles elevate DB Grayland Arnold and WR Deontay Burnett from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday's game". Philadelphia Eagles.com. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  16. ^ McPherson, Chris (October 10, 2020). "Roster Moves: Eagles sign DB Grayland Arnold; activate CB Craig James and WR Quez Watkins; and elevate TE Jason Croom and DB Elijah Riley". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  17. ^ McPherson, Chris (October 13, 2020). "Roster Moves: Eagles activate 21-day practice window for S Will Parks; waive DB Grayland Arnold and DE Casey Toohill". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  18. ^ McPherson, Chris (October 15, 2020). "Eagles sign DB Grayland Arnold to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  19. ^ McPherson, Chris (December 1, 2020). "Eagles promote S Grayland Arnold; waive S Will Parks". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  20. ^ McPherson, Chris (August 31, 2021). "Eagles announce initial 53-man roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  21. ^ "Eagles agree to terms with 15 players to join the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. September 1, 2021.
  22. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (9-15-2021)". HoustonTexans.com. September 15, 2021.
  23. ^ Davis, Coty (December 18, 2021). "Texans elevate three players ahead of Sunday's game against the Jaguars". Texans Wire. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  24. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (12-23-2021)". HoustonTexans.com. December 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "Report: Texans sign Grayland Arnold, Ron'Dell Carter to one-year extensions". December 30, 2021.
  26. ^ "Texans' Grayland Arnold: Goes on injured reserve".
  27. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (8-30-2022)". HoustonTexans.com. August 30, 2022.
  28. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (8-31-2022)". HoustonTexans.com. August 31, 2022.
  29. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (10-1-2022)". HoustonTexans.com. October 1, 2022.
  30. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (11-3-2022)". HoustonTexans.com. November 3, 2022.
  31. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (12-23-2022)". HoustonTexans.com. December 23, 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grayland Arnold.
  • Philadelphia Eagles bio
  • Baylor Bears bio
  • v
  • t
  • e
Houston Texans roster
Active
Free agents
AFC East
BUF
MIA
NE
NYJ
North
BAL
CIN
CLE
PIT
South
HOU
IND
JAX
TEN
West
DEN
KC
LV
LAC
NFC East
DAL
NYG
PHI
WAS
North
CHI
DET
GB
MIN
South
ATL
CAR
NO
TB
West
ARI
LAR
SF
SEA