Tanner’s football journey took a bit of a turn before he even played a snap during his junior year. He suffered a broken collarbone in a preseason practice, an injury that sidelined him for the first half of the season. Eager to return to the field and make an impact, albeit for only the final few games of the year, Tanner made it only one half of one game before getting hit and breaking his collarbone again.
Given the heartbreaking turn of events, Tanner’s mother, Veronica, still had little doubt that her middle child would be back on the field in no time.
“He had a great attitude and persevered,” Veronica Arkin said. “Surprisingly, I think it frustrated us and devastated us more than him. He’s always been strong. He was like, ‘God has a purpose and a plan, and I’m going to keep moving forward.’”
Looking to finish his high school career on a positive note, Tanner was as motivated as ever for his senior year, which was ultimately abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The injury bug hit Tanner once again, this time in the form of a broken fibula during his second game of the season.
Tanner played through it but, understandably, could not be as effective or move as easily. Despite yet another setback, Tanner announced his commitment and signed for his hometown school, Colorado State, in December 2020.
After graduating from Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colorado, Tanner joined the Rams program ahead of the 2021 season. Making one catch during his true freshman year, Tanner played in three games and took a redshirt before being named Preseason All-Mountain West ahead of the 2022 slate.
As a redshirt freshman, Tanner saw action in all 12 games while recording 14 catches for 116 yards, including a career-long 26-yard reception against San Jose State.
After completing his second season in Fort Collins, Tanner decided to enter the transfer portal and immediately received interest from multiple power-conference programs. The process was “a whirlwind” for the Arkin family, as Tanner did not take any official visits during his initial recruitment due to the pandemic.
Looking to enroll at his new school and join his new team for the spring semester, Tanner knew he needed to make his decision quickly. He knew exactly what he was looking for, and less than three weeks after playing in Colorado State’s season finale, Tanner announced his commitment to Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini.
“I wanted to go to a place where I…
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