Brandon Arrington, the fastest high school runner in the state, is in a hurry — to graduate.
While his classmates are planning what they’ll do over the holidays, Arrington will graduate early from Mount Miguel High School on Dec. 22, then relocate to College Station, Texas. Classes at Texas A&M begin in mid-January.
Having already signed an NIL contract to play football and run track for the Aggies, Arrington is looking to get a jump on college.
For now, however, he’s focused on 2025. Mount Miguel, 5-2 and ranked No. 9 in San Diego, has a real chance to win CIF San Diego Section and state championships. The Matadors’ push continues Friday, when they travel to No. 6 Granite Hills (3-3) for a Grossmont Hills League showdown.
“He’s a major weapon,” Mount Miguel coach Verlain Betofe. “Teams aren’t passing his way on defense. On offense, he draws a crowd. … I repeat that he’s a huge weapon wherever he is on the field.”
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Arrington has become an impact player this fall, starting at receiver on offense and cornerback on defense while also returning kicks.
Arrington is averaging more 20 yards a catch, racking up 301 yards on 15 receptions while hauling in an 83-yard touchdown. He has also returned a kickoff for a 63-yard score. He has four carries for 35 yards and a TD, but only 10 tackles as teams avoid throwing to his side of the field.
ESPN named Arrington the No. 1 football athlete in the country. Greg Biggins, national recruiting analyst for 247Sports.com, rates Arrington as a 5-star recruit.
“He’s a dynamic two-sport athlete who doubles as one of the nation’s top sprinters,” Biggins wrote in his scouting analysis. “In fact, some have called him a potential Olympic hopeful in 2028, and he’s already broken a pair of age group records set previously by Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles. On the gridiron, Arrington has made major strides at receiver and corner and is hoping to play on both sides of the ball at the next level.”
Biggins went on to write that Arrington is “dynamic with the football in his hands and a threat to score from anywhere on the field,” while noting that cornerback “could be his ultimate meal ticket and where he previously said was his desired position.”
While Arrington won’t run track at Texas A&M until after the 2026 football season, the Olympics remain a major goal. On the track, Arrington has set San Diego Section records in the 100 meters (10.21 seconds) and 200 meters (20.35 seconds). The 2024 Olympic qualifying mark for the 100 was 10.05, while the 200 was 20.30. Lyles won gold at the Paris Games in 9.79 seconds.
“While I’m hoping to make an impact in football as one of only two Texas A&M incoming athletes offered NIL contracts, in the back of my mind, I’m hoping to get back on the track and qualify to run in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles,” Arrington said. “Texas A&M sees me as a cornerback, but I’m pushing every day, learning everything I can to make our Mount Miguel team better.
“Let’s face it: my speed and size help me a lot, but I want to help this team go as far in the playoffs as they can. That’s what’s on my mind right now.”
Betofe agrees. But Betofe thinks Arrington has another rare physical attribute — long arms.
“It’s his secret weapon,” Betofe said. “If he keeps improving and learning, he has a legitimate chance to be a first-round NFL draft choice. He’s already 6-3 and will probably be 6-4, and those long arms are a bonus.”
While football opponents are trying to find ways to keep the ball away from Arrington, track sprinters across the state are breathing a lot easier now that they won’t have to face the affable speedster in the spring.
Arrington was a huge favorite to defend both state titles last spring. Then he suffered a hamstring injury in the league championships, ending his season.
“That was a lesson learned,” said Arrington. “I still plan to run after my freshman year. I might even run in some summer meets.”
Arrington chose Texas A&M over offers from 56 other schools. He took official visits to five of them: Oregon, Penn State, Alabama, USC and Texas A&M. Arrington brought his parents and brother along on his trip to College Station, and things went well. He verbally committed to the Aggies on June 19.
Texas A&M is having a breakout season, beating Notre Dame in nonconference play on the way to a 5-0 start and No. 5 national ranking. The Aggies host Florida (2-3) on Saturday.
Arrington didn’t share how much NIL money he’ll receive, but noted that it can be renegotiated year-to-year. Texas A&M leads all colleges in NIL money, distributing more than $50 million in all sports.
It’s heady stuff for a player in a big hurry with the speed to make it happen.