LaVar Arrington II, son of legendary Penn State linebacker, commits to Nittany Lions (Video)

LaVar Arrington had an All-American and Hall of Fame career at Penn State from 1997-99. His son may not be able to achieve the same feats at Happy Valley, but Nittany Lions fans will certainly be excited to see another LaVar Arrington suit in navy and white.

Penn State received a commitment from LaVar Arrington II on Thursday. Rivals ranks him as the No. 41 player in California and the No. 31 weakside defensive end.

Arrington, who is 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, had 65 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior at Charter Oak High School in Covina, Calif. He had offers from 15 schools, including Michigan, Oregon, Washington, Tennessee and Colorado.

Arrington II’s commitment makes him the 21st player in James Franklin’s 2025 recruiting class, which includes Mater Dei cornerback Daryus Dixson, a four-star recruit 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 earned two-time All-American honors, in addition to the Jack Lambert Trophy and Dick Butkus Award, both given to the nation’s top linebacker, and the Chuck Bednarik award, given to college football’s top defensive player. He finished ninth in the voting for the 1999 Heisman Trophy.

Arrington left Penn State after his junior season and was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2000 NFL Draft by Washington, where he played for six seasons. He played for the New York Giants in 2006, his final NFL season before retiring due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

In 2002, Arrington was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

“This is an exciting time for me and my family,” Arrington II posted on Instagram. “We are happy that I will be able to continue my education and career where my dad went to school. Thank you to all the coaches, staff, players and community for all the support, it played a huge part in my decision. We Are!!!”