Is ND even a legit possibility (grades, scholarship numbers, etc), or is that just "a hat on the table" reference?
During recruiting he was listed with a 2.7 GPA and I never did see a Test score. I looked for a UTN bio listing a major but didn't find one. Good educations can be gotten at UTN but that's not the usual M.O. for football players particularly during Fulmer's reign. That said, IF he was admitted to ND, he'd probably have to redo his freshman years based on UTN football academic coursework. Athletes in Knoxville can take Walking as a 3 credit course and get another 3 credits in Jogging. He'd be an academic "fit" at either UM or MSU and probably be able to transfer all his credits.
Arnett was very slender coming out of HS at 167 pounds. The UTN '11 roster listed him at 175 which makes him about 10 lighter than Toma or TJ Jones. He's about Jones's height. He doesn't have Toma's speed.
NCAA stats list Arnett as playing in all 12 games for UTN. He started out as a backup but got an opportunity due to injuries higher on the depth chart. He didn't catch a pass in the first two games against Montana and Cincy. He erupted for 8 catches against UF but only had 59 yds or a little over 7 yds/catch. He had 3 catches in each of the next two games against Buffalo and UGA averaging 8 yds/catch. He got both his of his season's TDs against Buffalo. He went without a catch versus LSU and Bama then caught 3 passes against both the ***** and Middle Tennessee. He had his longest plays against SCA and MT 26 and 35 yds. He had one catch for 8 yds against the Hogs. No catches against Vandy and close out the season with 3 catches for 20 yds in the loss to UK. Of his 24 catches, 2 were for more than 13 yds, 5 were for more than 10 yds. Arnett had no rushes for the year.
His Team Stats
Receptions 24 #3
Yds 242 #5
TDs 2 Tied for #2
YPC 10.1 #6
He did well for a freshman but he isn't a Golden Tate type receiver. He had more route running finesse that Tate but lacks Tate's build and speed. He's not going to break tackles nor stretch the field. Arnett could fit into Kelly's offense and be a solid contributor/eventual starter but not a game changer. Unless there's been a change of demeanor since his HS days he'd fit Kelly's offense better than he'd fit as an ND student.
As far as his selection of Tennessee, it didn't come out of the blue. He camped at UM, MSU, and UTN. He also committed in November of his senior year. Despite his YouTube and Facebook misdirections, he wanted Knoxville and WR Coach Charlie Baggett. But Baggett left UTN (fired or resigned, who quits making $400,000 as an assistant) earlier this month. Baggett was a former MSU WR coach/Assistant HC.
Despite disenchantment with the maliase of the UTN program and Baggett's departure, his father's illness has been widely reported. It will probably enable an NCAA hardship waiver so he won't have to sit out a year.
