Like father, like son: Arrington II to Penn State

Eli Lederman, ESPN Staff WriterJul 4, 2024, 01:58 PM ET

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Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.Outside linebacker LaVar Arrington II, the child of previous Penn State All-American and seven-year NFL veteran LaVar Arrington, revealed his dedication to the Nittany Lions on Thursday.Arrington II comes from Covina, California, and is a two-way standout at Charter Oak High School where he amounted to 65 takes on and 12 sacks throughout his junior season last fall. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound defender held deals from the likes of Michigan, Washington and Colorado, and devotes to his father’s alma mater following spring sees to Penn State, Tennessee and UCLA.The older Arrington authored a profession worthwhile of the College Football Hall of Popularity with the Nittany Lions

from 1997-99, where he became one the nation’s fiercest linebackers and became understood for the “LaVar Leap.”Arrington tallied 173 total tackles, 19 sacks and 3 interceptions on the way to back-to-back All-America selections, including unanimous honors in the 1999 season. That very same year, Arrington took home the Butkus and Bednarik Awards, along with the Jack Lambert Prize, while completing ninth in Heisman Trophy voting.Arrington was later on picked by the Washington Redskins with the No. 2 pick in the 2000 NFL Draft and made 3 Pro Bowl choices across 7 seasons in the pros. In retirement, Arrington has actually released a successful media profession with footholds in television and radio.With his promise, Arrington II becomes the 21st member of James Franklin’s 2025 class at Penn State, a group headlined by 10 ESPN potential customers consisting of Mater Dei cornerback Daryus Dixson, No. 90

in the 2025 ESPN 300. The Nittany Lions’inbound class ranks eighth in ESPN national group rankings for the 2025 class.