ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Javier Arenas was a last-minute addition to Alabama’s 2006 signing class.

Four years later, as he sets his sights on the SEC record book and possibly even the NCAA record book, he may go down as the best recruiting afterthought in Alabama football history.

“Florida International and Florida Atlantic were the only offers I really had,” said Arenas, who's from Tampa, Fla. “Alabama got on me late, mostly because I had a mentor of mine back home pushing for me. Not a lot of people believed in me back then.”

Suffice it to say they do now.

The 5-9, 195-pound senior dynamo needs 216 yards to break Wes Welker’s NCAA career record for punt return yardage. He needs 150 yards to break the SEC record, which has stood for 60 years. Vanderbilt’s Lee Nalley racked up 1,695 return yards from 1947-49.

South Carolina special teams coach Shane Beamer, who has to come up with a plan to stop Arenas this Saturday, hasn’t seen many better return guys do it any better. And that includes Florida’s Brandon James.

Beamer said both are great at what they do, but what separates Arenas is his ability to break tackles.

“He’s so strong and so powerful that he’ll run through a tackle even if you have it covered,” Beamer said. “He’s not just a guy who’s going to run by you.”

Arenas has returned six punts for touchdowns during his career. He’s averaging 16.9 yards a return this season despite teams doing their best to kick away from him.

“A lot of the times, with how high teams are kicking the ball, they’re right on top of me,” Arenas said. “I don’t have any choice if I’m going to break one but to break tackles.”

The truth is that’s his preference.

“I don’t care how big you are,” Arenas said. “I like to run you over, especially when people doubt me.”

Arenas, who signed with the Crimson Tide under former coach Mike Shula, has made a living of proving the doubters wrong. Even after he proved that he was a dangerous return man, there were some who wondered if he could be an effective cornerback at this level because of his height.

All he did a year ago in his first full season as a starter was earn second-team All-SEC honors at cornerback. He’s off to another strong start at corner this season on an Alabama defense that ranks second nationally in total defense.

Whether it’s coming on a blitz, locking down on a big-play receiver or making a key tackle in the open field, Arenas has been up to the task.

According to Alabama coach Nick Saban, he has also been one of the emotional igniters on this defense.

“He’s a great competitor and a perfectionist in everything he does,” Saban said. “He’s worked really hard at becoming a very good defensive back and plays a lot of roles for us -- corner and the “Star,” which is the fifth defensive back or nickel back.

“His competitive spirit, how hard he plays and the toughness he plays with, certainly impacts the other players on our team.”

Arenas said he owes Saban for giving him a chance to show what he could do at cornerback and not just be pigeonholed as a return specialist.

“I’ve always had this type of potential,” said Arenas, who’s third on Alabama’s team with 31 total tackles, including three sacks. “Coach Saban gave me the opportunity to present myself. But at the same time, he has made me that much better as a corner. I’ve always had the ability, the shiftiness, all the aspects to be a good corner.

“But coach believed in me, helped me out and showed me the ropes.”

In turn, Arenas has shown that height is just a number, a very small number compared to the numbers he’s put up on the field.