Damon Arnette Explained

Damon Arnette
Position:Cornerback
Birth Date:2 September 1996
Birth Place:Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:195
High School:St. Thomas Aquinas
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
College:Ohio State (2015–2019)
Draftyear:2020
Draftround:1
Draftpick:19
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statleague:NFL
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:29
Statlabel2:Forced fumbles
Statlabel3:Fumble recoveries
Statlabel4:Pass deflections
Statvalue4:3
Statlabel5:Interceptions

Damon Arnette (born September 2, 1996) is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Early life

Arnette was born in Dallas, Texas, and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when he was three years old.[1] He attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School, where he played linebacker and wide receiver for the Raiders.[2] He was named honorable mention Class 8A-7A-6A All-County as a senior and helped lead the team to a state championship. Rated a three-star recruit, Arnette originally committed to play college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks during the summer going into his senior year before changing his commitment to Ohio State on national signing day.[3]

College career

Arnette redshirted his true freshman season after a bone chip was discovered in his tibia during training camp. He played in 13 of Ohio State's games the following season as a key reserve at defensive back and recorded 21 tackles with one interception.[4] As a redshirt sophomore, Arnette started 12 of the Buckeyes 14 games and led the team's cornerbacks with 44 tackles with two interceptions and eight passes broken up and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference.[5] [6] Arnette was again named honorable mention as a junior, 40 tackles and one interception in 13 games played.[7] [8] Arnette originally planned to leave school and forgo his final season of NCAA eligibility to enter the 2019 NFL draft, but eventually decided to return to Ohio State for his final year of eligibility.[9]

Arnette scored his first career touchdown on September 14, 2019, on a 97-yard interception return against Indiana.[10] Arnette was named second-team All-Big Ten at the end of the season, recording 35 tackles, eight passes defended and one interception while playing with a broken wrist.[11] [12] [13]

College statistics

[14]

Season Team
Ohio State11 11 10 21 0.0 0.0 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Ohio State12 35 9 44 3.0 0.0 2 35 17.5 0 8 1 1
Ohio State13 31 9 40 0.0 0.0 1 1 1.0 0 6 0 0
Ohio State11 27 8 35 1.0 0.0 1 96 96.0 1 8 1 0
Career 47 104 36 140 4.0 0.0 5 132 26.4 1 22 2 1

Professional career

Las Vegas Raiders

Arnette was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round with the 19th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft.[15] The Raiders previously obtained the 19th selection as part of the trade that sent Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears in 2018. He was placed on injured reserve on October 2, 2020, with a thumb injury.[16] He was moved to the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on October 19,[17] and was moved back to injured reserve on October 30.[18] He was activated to the active roster on November 14, 2020.[19]

Arnette entered the 2021 season as a backup cornerback behind Trayvon Mullen and Casey Hayward. He suffered a groin injury in Week 4 and was placed on injured reserve.[20] The Raiders released him on November 8, 2021, after the discovery of a video showing him brandishing firearms and making death threats.[21]

Miami Dolphins

On December 15, 2021, Arnette was signed to the practice squad of the Miami Dolphins.[22] His contract expired when the team's season ended on January 9, 2022.

Kansas City Chiefs

Arnette signed a reserve/futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on January 20, 2022.[23] He was released on January 29, 2022, after he was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and two counts of possession of controlled substances in Las Vegas.[24]

Personal life

Arnette is also a rapper under the stage name NWG Suave.[25]

Legal issues

On November 5, 2021, Arnette was accused of injuring a woman in a 2020 car crash. On October 14, 2020, Arnette allegedly slammed into the woman's car after missing a turn on the way to team practice, then left the scene. The crash occurred with Arnette traveling at 65 miles per hour, which allegedly caused the woman "head trauma" and "shoulder, neck, and back pain as well as depression and panic attacks."[26]

On November 8, 2021, a video was discovered of Arnette in which he brandished firearms and was making death threats. This video led to his release from the Raiders.[21]

On January 29, 2022, Arnette was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and two counts of possession of controlled substances.[24] On July 25, 2022, Las Vegas authorities announced no criminal charges would be filed.[27] However, on May 16, 2023, it was announced that a grand jury had indicted Arnette for assault with a deadly weapon and other firearms charges relating from this incident.[28] On August 7, Arnette formally agreed to a plea deal and was sentenced to 50 hours of community service, $2,000 in fines, surrendering the gun he had when he was arrested, and ordered to not violate any laws for 90 days.[29]

On the night of July 25, 2022, Arnette was pulled over and found to have a suspended license. He was released with the police allowing the passenger to drive the vehicle. Hours later, shortly after midnight on July 26, Arnette was again pulled over driving the same vehicle, and this time was placed under arrest and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license. He was later released on bond.[30]

Arnette was again arrested on January 6, 2024, at 3:30am in Richardson, Texas. He was charged with possession of methamphetamine and unlawful carrying of a firearm.[31]

NFL career statistics

[32]

Season Team
LVR9 7 21 4 25 1 2
2021LVR4 0 2 2 4 0 2
Career 13 7 23 6 29 1 4

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Landis . Bill . August 28, 2019 . The hard truths that brought Damon Arnette back to Ohio State . November 25, 2019 . The Athletic.
  2. Web site: Rabinowitz . Bill . November 8, 2019 . How waiting has paid off for Ohio State's Damon Arnette . November 25, 2019 . The Columbus Dispatch.
  3. Web site: Taylor . Nate . February 2, 2015 . Ohio State earns commitment from Thomas Aquinas CB Damon Arnette . November 25, 2019 . Sun-Sentinel.
  4. Web site: Haritz . Ian . October 31, 2016 . Ohio State's Raekwon McMillan is making game-changing plays on a weekly basis . November 25, 2019 . LandGrantHolyLand.com . SB Nation.
  5. Web site: Murphy . Patrick . June 8, 2018 . Damon Arnette is ready to emerge as the next Buckeye CB star . November 25, 2019 . 247Sports.com.
  6. Web site: Bielik . Tim . November 28, 2017 . Bosa, Lewis, Ward named first-team All-Big Ten . November 21, 2020 . cleveland.com . en.
  7. Web site: Hartman . Marcus . August 7, 2019 . Ohio State football: Damon Arnette back to rewrite his story, boost Buckeyes secondary . November 25, 2019 . Dayton Daily News.
  8. Web site: November 28, 2018 . 12 Ohio State defenders earn All-Big Ten honors . November 25, 2019 . WKRC.com.
  9. Web site: Helwagen . Steve . January 11, 2019 . After considering NFL jump, Arnette opts to return to Ohio State . November 25, 2019 . CBSSports.com.
  10. Web site: Baird . Nathan . September 18, 2019 . Ohio State football's Damon Arnette backing up his decision to remain a Buckeye . November 25, 2019 . The Plain Dealer.
  11. Web site: Murphy . Patrick . December 3, 2019 . Seven Buckeyes receive All-Big Ten honors . December 16, 2019 . 247Sports.com.
  12. Web site: Rowland . Kyle . December 7, 2019 . Broken wrist no problem for Ohio State's Arnette . December 16, 2019 . The Blade.
  13. Web site: Goul . Matt . March 10, 2020 . Damon Arnette, Ohio State CB: 2020 NFL Draft profile . April 24, 2020 . The Plain Dealer.
  14. Web site: Damon Arnette. 4 September 2021. sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC.
  15. Web site: White . R.J. . April 23, 2020 . 2020 NFL Draft grades: Raiders get a 'B' for selecting Damon Arnette at No. 19 overall . April 23, 2020 . CBS Sports.
  16. Web site: October 2, 2020 . Raiders place CB Damon Arnette and DT Daniel Ross on IR . November 21, 2020 . Raiders.com.
  17. Web site: Mosher . Marcus . October 19, 2020 . Raiders place rookie CB Damon Arnette on Reserve/COVID-19 . November 1, 2020 . USAToday.com.
  18. Web site: October 30, 2020 . Raiders' Damon Arnette: Clears COVID-19 protocols . November 1, 2020 . CBSSports.com.
  19. News: Damien, Levi . Raiders activate starting CB Damon Arnette from injured reserve . USAToday.com . November 14, 2020 . December 23, 2020.
  20. Web site: Arnette, Mullen Jr. and Carrier placed on IR. Raiders.com. October 9, 2021.
  21. Web site: Raiders releasing former first-round CB Damon Arnette . NFL.com . 8 November 2021.
  22. Web site: Roster Moves: Dolphins Elevate S Redwine as COVID-19 Replacement, Sign CB Arnette to Practice Squad. MiamiDolphins.com. December 15, 2021.
  23. Web site: Chiefs sign defensive end to practice squad, former first-round cornerback to futures deal. Arrowhead Pride. SB Nation. January 20, 2022.
  24. Web site: Chiefs cut Damon Arnette after arrest. Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. January 29, 2022.
  25. Web site: 1st Round NFL Draft Pick 1st Round NFL Draft Pick Damon Arnette (NWG Suave) Releases New Single "Netway" Off Upcoming Album 'Misunderstood' . Enigma Online . 6 May 2022.
  26. Web site: Raiders CB Damon Arnette accused of injuring woman in 2020 car crash. November 6, 2021.
  27. Web site: No criminal charges filed against Damon Arnette. July 26, 2022. Pro Football Talk. Alper. Josh.
  28. Web site: Ex-Las Vegas Raider Damon Arnette indicted on assault, gun charges. Charns. David. May 16, 2023. 8NewsNow.com.
  29. https://apnews.com/article/nfl-raiders-arnette-vegas-indictment-gun-7300b31e945988cee647a932c42b9895 AP: Ex-Raiders cornerback Arnette says he wants to play in the NFL again after plea in Vegas gun case
  30. Sports Illustrated. Koons. Zach. Former Raiders First-Round Pick Damon Arnette Arrested, per Report. July 26, 2022.
  31. Web site: 2024-02-26 . Former Ohio State Cornerback Damon Arnette Arrested for Drug Possession, Unlawful Carrying of Firearm . 2024-02-27 . Eleven Warriors . en.
  32. Web site: Damon Arnette, Pro. live. 4 September 2021. pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. https://web.archive.org/web/20170615180630/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/damon-arnette-1.html . June 15, 2017 .