Penn State is 'super excited' about signing LaVar Arrington II, and not just because of who his dad is
To some, it might seem like common sense that Penn State signed LaVar Arrington II as part of its currently 26-man Class of 2025, considering who his father is. But, this was hardly a spot handed to the son of Lions legend LaVar Arrington because of his last name. In fact, the Lions were not event the first school, but rather the 10th, to leap into the race to land him. It did not extend an offer to the Covina, Calif., Charter Oak linebacker until Nov. 15. 2023. That was long after Oregon State kicked off this recruitment in April of that year.
“If you were to rewind a couple of years, I don’t know if the world would have said, ‘Hey, he’s a Penn State-level player,’ Nittany Lions General Manager for Personnel and Recruitment Andy Frank said Wednesday.
That has certainly changed. Arrington II’s recruiting profile rose as his play on the field did. He totaled 65 tackles and 12 sacks in 13 games as a junior, plus nine quarterback hurries, one interception and a blocked punt. He ultimately took official visits to see UCLA, Penn State, and Tennessee before committing to the Lions on July 4. Then, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound defender who projects as either a linebacker or edge rusher depending on how he develops moving forward, turned his full attention toward his senior season. And, it was a mighty fine end to his prep career.
More: Who were Penn State’s biggest wins and misses in the Class of 2025?
Arrington II finished 2024 with 45 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 15 quarterback hurries, bringing his career totals to 45 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, and 24 quarterback hurries. Along the way, he moved up 128 spots in the On3 Industry Rankings in October. Now officially a Nittany Lion, he is the No. 276 player nationally, No. 28 linebacker, and a four-star in those rankings.
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“If you look from year to year to year, he just keeps getting better and better,” Frank said. “And you saw this senior year, he really flashed on film. It is a guy we’re super excited about. I think he’s got the ability to rush off the edge. I think he can play stand-up a little bit as well. He’s got some twitch, he’s got some bend. I think he’s a guy that’s got a lot of versatility and is going to be a really good player for us down the road.”
Arrington II is one of three players who currently projects as linebackers in this signing class. Philadelphia St. Joe’s four-star Cam Smith and Greater Latrobe four-star Alex Tatsch are the others. Arrington II and Tatsch will both enroll at Penn State in January. Smith will arrive next summer. All three aim to carry the Lions’ ‘Linebacker U’ legacy forward.
