BeaversEdge Top 20 for 2017: No. 5 Brandon Arnold
In the month of July, BeaversEdge.com is counting down the top 20 Oregon State football players on the 2017 roster.
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No. 5 - Brandon Arnold
Bio
5-foot-11, 204-pounds
Safety
Redshirt Senior
Los Angeles, Calif.
Crespi H.S.
2016 stats: 68 tkls, 1 TFL, 1 FR, 1 INT (43 yds)
2016 Recap
Brandon Arnold had a very productive year in the safety spot, totaling 68 tackles, which was 5th best on the team. An impressive thing about Arnold last season was his high football IQ. He helped anchor a secondary that very rarely ever got beat deep (other than the Colorado game) and is a very vocal leader. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Arnold last season was that he got better as the season went along. By the end of the season, he was playing as productively as any safety in the country.
2017 Outlook
Arnold is set up in 2017 to be the leader of the Oregon State defense. He is a senior who carries himself with a never-say-die attitude, and with Devin Chappell graduating, the Beavers need a player like him. Statistically speaking, I expect Arnold’s tackle numbers to go down, because the Beavers front seven will be better this season at getting pressure on the QB, but that means Arnold could get a few more interceptions this season. He is a great leader for the Beavers both on and off the field, and his expectations are perhaps the highest on the team. In the spring, he told me that he wants to see the Beavers competing for Pac-12 championships, and just having that sort of outgoing confidence impresses me.
Greaves' take on Arnold
Marcus Greaves will provide analysis for each player in the BeaversEdge Top 20 for 2017. Greaves played for Oregon State from 2014-2017 and joined the BeaversEdge.com staff as a football analyst
Arnold has been one of the most consistent players in the conference, is a for sure tackler and a hard hitter, and that’s why he lands in the top five. Arnold has been the Beavers “last hope” many times when a run breaks free on the defense, and he has shown up and given the Beavers a chance to live another down. He is a ballhawk with a chip on his shoulder. He likes to talk the talk but watch his film and you’ll see he can walk the walk. I expect Brandon to show his play making ability more often as well as be a strong leader on the field.