#9

Jace Arnold

DB · Sam Houston · R-Jr. · #9

Returning to Sam Houston for 2026
R-Jr. · Douglasville, Ga. → Marietta HS / Wisconsin
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This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Jace Arnold

DB · Sam Houston · So · #9

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#752 national
CFB
College
2 teams
2024–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2024–2025

2 coaches
2024
K.C. Keeler
Sam Houston
2025
Phil Longo
Sam Houston
era →

Coaching transition mid-career: K.C. Keeler → Phil Longo. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2024Wisconsin5-7HC: Luke Fickell · Run-leaning
2025Sam Houston2-10HC: Phil Longo · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Sam Houston1990.00.01----
2024Wisconsin110.00.0------
Career20100.00.01----

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 12 · 2025

W 26–23

vs Delaware

3 SOLO  ·  3 TOT

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 at home.

How he plays

Play style

Moves between deep coverage and the slot.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Sam Houston

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive back · Sam Houston

Returning around him

  • 90% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • Transfer portal: +5 net (20 in / 15 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Sam Houston · Last season: 2-10 · Talent rank #123

DNA match

Player DNA

Hybrid Nickel

Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.

S

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Avyonne Jones’s 2024 season.

Coastal Carolina · 2024

#2

Jaylen Watson

Iowa · 2025

NFL Rd 7
90%
#3

Harlem Howard

Oregon State · 2025

84%
#4

Aidan Gousby

Minnesota · 2024

81%
#5

Simion Hines

UL Monroe · 2022

80%

Matches Avyonne on

Height
PD rate
Tackle volume

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Jaylen Watson's sophomore season at Iowa (2025).

Iowa · 2025

NFL Rd 7
#2

Josiah Charles

New Mexico State · 2024

88%
#3

Tyler Williams

UTEP · 2023

88%
#4

Kevyn Humes

Maryland · 2025

84%
#5

Bryce Linder

North Texas · 2023

82%

Matches Jaylen on

Class year
Height
TFL rate

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #14121

Final rank
#14732
Avg #14611.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #14121 this season.

Background

Wisconsin 2024 Season Played in 10 games, mostly on special teams … saw defensive action versus Purdue (Oct. 5) and at Northwestern (Oct. 19) … made one tackle on special teams versus Penn State (Oct. 26) 2023 Season Played in the season’s final four games on special teams Marietta HS Four-star r...

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