Johnathan Jerone "J. J." Arrington (born January 23, 1983 in Nashville, North Carolina) is a National Football League running back for the Arizona Cardinals. He was selected in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft as the 44th overall pick. He played as the running back for University of California.
High school years
Arrington attended Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and was a letterman in football as a tailback. In football, he was a three-year varsity starter and a two-time All-Conference selection. He was also named his team's Most Valuable Player, and the Area Offensive Player of the Year as a senior.
Junior college career
Arrington attended the College of the Canyons for two years. As a sophomore, he won All Region III honors (which is selected by the California Community College Football Coaches Association and the J.C. Athletic Bureau) and had 135 rushing attempts for 769 yards (5.7 yards per rushing attempt average), and caught 30 passes for 320 yards (10.67 yards per reception average). His 19 touchdowns that season, and 29 career touchdowns, were both school records.
College career
Arrington transferred to University of California at Berkeley as a junior. Arrington would receive few carries for most of the 2003 season aside from his 114 yard performance against Southern Mississippi. A knee injury to then starting running back Adimchinobi Echemandu would thrust Arrington into the starting role against the Washington Huskies. This proved to be his breakout game as he mauled the Huskies defense for 185 yards and a touchdown. It took him only 14 carries to achieve this feat. In the first half managed to tally 157 yards on ten carries. He also caught a 30 yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers giving him a total of 215 yards on the day.
Despite this performance, he would receive limited carries the rest of the 2003 season. He did have a play pivotal role in the Insight Bowl by catching five passes for 38 yards, including a 13 yard touchdown pass that would reduce Virginia Tech's lead to only 28-21 at halftime. Cal would ultimately prevail 52-49 on a game-winning field goal.
The 2004 season would see Arrington earn the starting tailback spot after the departure of Adimchinobe Echemandu for the NFL. Arrington played a major role in the Cal Bears' first 10-win season since 1949. He would rush for at least 100 yards in every single game that season. Arrington rushed for 169 yards or more in eight of his team's 12 games as well.
Ultimately Arrington would have one of the greatest seasons of any running back in NCAA and Pac-10 history, gaining 2,018 rushing yards that season. He became only the second Pac-10 Tailback to gain over 2000 yards, joining USC tailback Marcus Allen. His mark is also the tenth best total in NCAA history. He would receive the honor of the Pop Warner Award, deeming him the best College Football player on the west coast. He would also earn All-American and All-Pacific Ten conference honors.
Ultimately, the season would end in disappointment. Despite a stellar 10-1 record, they Bears were bypassed for a BCS Bowl bid by The University of Texas. As a result, they played in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl against a 7-4 Texas Tech squad, where Cal was be upset by a score of 45-31, a disappointing end to Arrington's college career.
Professional career
After drafting him in the second round, the Cardinals placed him as the starting running back on the depth chart, with the intention of having him share carries with Marcel Shipp. He started the first game against the Giants gaining 5 yards on 8 carries (0.6 average). After this poor showing in his first game, he didn't play a snap the 2nd game of the season against the Rams. By the end of the season he had played 15 games with 5 starts, gaining 370 yards on 112 carries (3.3 average) and 2 touchdowns. He didn't light up the NFL as expected and in the off-season the Cardinals signed Edgerrin James from Free Agency.
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