28 Javier Arenas
7/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
2006 (Freshman): Arenas was the top kick and punt returner for the Crimson Tide. He had 18 kick returns for 354 yards, an average of 19.7 yards per return with a long of 31 yards. He also returned 30 punts for 200 yards and one touchdown with a long of 65 yards. He set career highs for punt returns against Florida International. He returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown on his birthday and finished with five returns for 81 yards. In the season opener against Hawai’i, he returned four kickoffs for 87 yards. He tallied 68 all-purpose yards at LSU with three punt returns for 12 yards and three kickoff returns for 56 yards. He had one kick return for 27 yards and three punt returns for 16 yards against Louisiana Monroe. He had a career long punt return of 24 yards at Arkansas. He had 59 all-purpose yards against Ole Miss with three punt returns for 15 yards and two kick returns for 44 yards. He played a total of 95 snaps on the season with a season-high 10 plays against Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Auburn. After the Florida International game, Arenas was tabbed the Alabama Special Teams Player of the Week.
Prep: Set the record for most punt (4) and kick returns (3) for a touchdown in a single season his senior year. He scored 16 touchdowns as a defensive back at Robinson High School. First team All-Suncoast player. Named USA Navy Player of the Week and Bright House Player of the Week in 2005. He was also a track star running the 200 meters in 22.9 seconds and the 400 meters in 54 seconds.
Personal: Son of Faconda Arenas. Has four brothers, Jeno, Armando, Michael and Marco and one sister, Jetta. Born 10-28-87. His cousin Gilbert Arenas, plays in the NBA with the Washington Wizards.
