LaVar Arrington was an All-American and Hall of Fame player at Penn State from 1997-1999. It’s unclear whether his son will repeat his legacy at Happy Valley, but Nittany Lions fans will be excited to see LaVar Arrington in the navy blue and white.
Penn State received the commitment of LaVar Arrington II on Thursday. The three-star recruit is ranked by Rivals as the No. 41 player in the state and the No. 31 weakside defensive end in the Class of 2025.
“This is an exciting time for me and my family,” Arrington II posted on Instagram. “I am so happy that I will be continuing my education and career at the school my father attended. Thank you to all the coaches, staff, players and community for your support, it played a huge role in my decision. We are!!!”
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Arrington recorded 65 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior at Charter Oak High School in Covina, California. He held offers from 15 schools, including Michigan, Oregon, Washington, Tennessee and Colorado.
Arrington II’s inclusion makes him the 21st player in James Franklin’s 2025 recruiting class, which also includes Mater Dei cornerback Darius Dixon, a four-star freshman from Santa Ana, Calif., who is ranked No. 53 overall by Rivals. Penn State’s 2025 class is currently ranked No. 6.
During his time at Penn State, senior LaVar Arrington was a two-time All-American, as well as a recipient of the Jack Lambert and Dick Butkus Awards for best linebacker in the nation and the Chuck Bednarik Award for best college football defensive player. He finished ninth in the 1999 Heisman Trophy voting.
Arrington left Penn State after his junior season and was selected second overall in the 2000 NFL Draft by the University of Washington, where he played six seasons. He played his final NFL season with the New York Giants in 2006 before retiring due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
In 2002, Arrington was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
