Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban has submitted a letter of support to a Florida judge on behalf of former star cornerback Terrion Arnold after his arrest last week on armed robbery and kidnapping charges.

Arnold, who was very close with Saban and his wife during his time at Alabama, is facing serious prison time, and a hearing Monday granted him bail after prosecutors wanted to hold him without bond until the trial.

Saban’s letter was dated this past Friday and printed on University of Alabama letterhead, becoming public record in Florida with several other character references filed on Arnold’s behalf.

The full letter reads as follows:

“Dear Judge Sabella,

“My name is Nick Saban, and I have spent decades as a football coach working with young men from diverse and often difficult backgrounds. In that time, I have had the privilege of watching hundreds of athletes grow not just as a players, but as men. I write this letter because of the exceptional character I witnessed in Terrion Arnold over the more than six years I have known him.

“I first met Terrion when he joined my program in 2021. From the beginning, he stood out — not only because of his athletic ability, but because of who he was off the field. Based on my experience with Terrion, I’ve always believed he leads with genuine care for the people around him.

“Over the years, I have welcomed Terrion into my home and around my family. He has consistently treated my family and my staff with respect, humility and kindness. In all the time I have known him, he never once gave me cause to question his conduct, his integrity, or his respect for others. I don’t ever recall him being involved in any behavior that would be described as aggressive or irresponsible.

“Based on my experiences with Terrion, I remain committed to supporting him. While I’m not overly familiar with or educated on the charges he is facing, and understand the seriousness of his situation before the court, I would respectfully ask the Court to take into account my experience with Terrion, his character, history and the positive impact he had on our program.”

Arnold, who was released by the Detroit Lions on Monday, had to pay a $1 million bond with strict conditions, including surrendering of his passport and having no contact with witnesses or co-defendants. It remains to be seen what exactly the outcome will be here, but it seems like Saban is sticking by his former player either way.