Analyzing What Shamar Arnoux Brings To Tennessee
Compete. It's the No. 1 requirement for any corner at any level. If you aren't getting on the hash marks to win your matchup, you can't win at corner. It's why the greatest defensive backs in our game are loud, physical, and outspoken: winning is the only option for them.
Tennessee needed to add more competitors to their defensive backfield. They did that on Friday by adding 2025 four-star corner Shamar Arnoux to the mix. Arnoux is their first 2025 pledge, kick-starting another critical recruiting cycle for head coach Josh Heupel and company. They have three defensive backs committed across 2024 and 2025, and Arnoux continues the mold they seek: strong, fast, and smart.
Arnoux transferred to Milton High School after spending the first two seasons of his career with the Westlake Lions. Westlake ran a bunch of two-man concepts that asked Arnoux to play quarters coverage, a concept Tennessee frequently runs. He also played man out of Cover-1 and Cover-2 looks, a necessity in the Vols' scheme; with how quickly they ran offensive plays, defenders must be ready to line up in a base set and run similar concepts out of a few formations each game.
Shamar Arnoux, 2025 CB
The skill gap when he arrives in college won't be nearly what it is for other recruits. Arnoux has competed with Georgia's top talent since he was ten years old in high school football, camp circuits, and 7on7. Arnoux faces SEC competition each time he steps on the playing field - he faced 29 Power-5 football players in his sophomore season alone.
Arnoux has been adamant in interviews and on social media that he has room to grow and will work to accomplish that. Sources indicate that this is a hard worker, someone who cares about whether his team wins or loses. Arnoux's first two plays on his sophomore tape are a game-winning tackle and an effort play where he forced a fumble. That's not typical of a four-star corner, but your highlights reflect what matters to you, and those two painted a clear picture.
He does need some more reps in pass coverage, specifically downfield. The 7on7 circuit is preparing him well, but I'd like to see him in more contested catch scenarios. Milton runs a more traditional system that emphasizes their corners play more in one-on-one situations, where Arnoux would have previously been playing trail coverage at Westlake.
His pledge gives us a more clear indication of what Tennessee wants at corner. Landing corner Kaleb Beasley in 2024 was great, but he was an easy evaluation. Beasley has elite man-cover skills and got attention from major programs like Notre Dame, Georgia, and Clemson. Arnoux had a strong list of suitors, but Tennessee was in this recruitment early - they were his third SEC offer, getting in before most other programs.
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