“You fought hard soldier”: Alabama star Terrion Arnold reacts to the death of former walk-on Terrance Howard after getting struck by a car

Terrion Arnold, a former cornerback for Alabama, expressed his sorrow on Instagram over the tragic passing of former walk-on player Terrance Howard, affectionately known as "T."

Howard, who graduated from Ridge Point High School in 2022, had recently transferred from the University of Alabama to North Carolina Central University to pursue football and track.

Last weekend, Howard returned to Alabama with his parents to gather his belongings. Tragically, while moving his things from Alabama to Durham, he was involved in a traffic accident.

According to his family, the incident occurred early Monday morning on I-85 near Salisbury, NC, during a storm. Howard had a minor crash, and after ensuring the other people involved were okay, he was struck by another passing vehicle.

On Instagram, CB Arnold paid tribute to Howard:

"You fought hard, soldier. Can't believe they would do you like that, bro. RIP."

Screenshot, via Arnold's Instagram

Howard's family faced a difficult time when he was initially unidentified at the hospital. Brooke Tigtig, the mother of Howard's girlfriend, told KHOU:

"When he was picked up, he didn't have ID on him so he was considered a John Doe. He was taken to one hospital and transferred to another," Tigtig said. "So I think it took some time for them to be able to contact his parents."

The response to Howard's passing has been heartfelt, with an outpouring of support from both North Carolina Central University and the University of Alabama. Even former Alabama head coach Nick Saban reached out to offer his condolences, as per reports.

Terrance Howard was a talented football athlete

Terrance Howard was a talented athlete from Missouri City, Texas, who made a mark in football and track at Ridge Point High School. As a junior in 2021, Howard helped his team achieve an impressive 11-2 record, clinching the district title with a perfect 7-0 record.

Howard's football skills shone through with 41 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception, and 8 pass breakups, earning him an All-District nomination.

Howard was also a standout on the track, winning the district 20-6A 400m title, finishing as the area runner-up, and qualifying for regionals with a personal best time of 48.75 seconds.

In 2023, Terrance Howard was a redshirt freshman at the University of Alabama. According to 247Sports, he was part of the team that clinched the SEC Championship and competed in the College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl.