Commit Impact: What do Penn State fans need to know about LaVar Arrington II?
Penn State missed on a few legacy prospects in the Class of 2025, but head coach James Franklin and his staff were able to lock up a very familiar name earlier today in linebacker prospect LaVar Arrington II.
What do fans need to know about this recruitment? We break it all down below.
1. How it started
For most commits, we’d point back to the day Arrington was offered – Nov. 15, 2023 – as the day this recruitment really got going. But when you consider that his father, LaVar Arrington, is one of the biggest names to come out of Penn State’s football program, that feels like the right place to start here.
While Tom Allen and the entire staff made it clear throughout that they wanted Arrington II because of what he brings and not because of his father, it’s hard to ignore that history. Not only was his father a first-team All-American for the Nittany Lions in 1998 and 1999, but he also won numerous awards, including the Bednarik and the Butkus in his final season in Happy Valley.
2. Which schools were considered?
Arrington II picked up his first offer from Oregon State in April 2023. Over the following year, he earned 17 total scholarship offers with Penn State being the 10th school to make that move. Over a dozen of those offers came from programs in today’s Power Four conferences, including a few Big Ten programs – Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon and Washington. Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College, Colorado, Missouri, Tennessee, UCLA and Utah also extended offers.
3. Path to Penn State
For the most part, much of Arrington’s recruitment was kept quiet. If you look at On3’s Visit Center, you’ll notice only three visits marked for Penn State, but in reality, it’s been much more than that over the years. Unlike so many other recruits, Arrington and his family often made private visits to the school over attending bigger events like junior days. One of those visits was a mid-week trip to meet with the staff back in January
Arrington did return for the Blue-White Game in April. He also locked in his official visit with the Nittany Lion coaching staff before attending the spring game, so there have been numerous signs that PSU should be in good shape in recent months. In addition to his Penn State official visit, which was June 21-23, Arrington went to UCLA (May 31 to June 2) and Tennessee (June 14-16).
4. Rankings, Accolades & Stats
He is a three-star prospect by the On3 Industry Rankings and is the No. 71 linebacker prospect nationally in the Class of 2025. He’s the No. 50 prospect in California in the cycle.
Arrington II had 65 tackles and 12 sacks in 13 games as a junior in 2023. He added nine hurries, an interception and a blocked punt as well. Wearing the familiar No. 11 for Charter Oak, Arrington was deployed mostly as a standup defensive end for the Chargers last year.
5. What has he said about Penn State?
“Having him helps me with making a decision. He not only went through what I went through but he is smart and has a football mind, too, so it is not like he is pressuring me to go to Penn State or anything like that. This is strictly my decision.”
– Arrington II on his father’s impact on his recruitment
6. Penn State Class of 2025 Timeline
April 13, 2023 — Four-star Arkansas running back Kiandrea Barker.
Sept. 26, 2023 — Four-star Pennsylvania tight end/offensive tackle Brady O’Hara.
Sept. 25, 2023 — Three-star Pennsylvania running back Tiqwai Hayes.
Nov. 14, 2023 – Three-star Colorado quarterback Bekkem Kritza.
Dec. 21, 2023 – Three-star Pennsylvania cornerback Xxavier Thomas.
Jan. 21, 2024 – Three-star Connecticut offensive tackle Owen Aliciene.
Feb. 4, 2024 – Four-star Pennsylvania linebacker Alex Tatsch.
Feb. 7, 2024 – Four-star Pennsylvania athlete Dayshaun Burnett.
Feb. 11, 2024 – Three-star New Jersey offensive lineman Michael Troutman.
Feb. 19, 2024 – Three-star New York wide receiver Lyrick Samuel.
May 8, 2024 – Four-star Virginia tight end Matt Henderson.
June 10, 2024 – Four-star California cornerback Daryus Dixson.
June 17, 2024 – Four-star New Jersey cornerback Jahmir Joseph.
June 19, 2024 – Three-star Florida safety Antonio Branch.
June 22, 2024 – Four-star Pennsylvania running back Jabree Wallace-Coleman.
June 23, 2024 – Three-star New Jersey safety Braswell Thomas.
June 23, 2024 – Four-star edge rusher Cortez Harris.
June 24, 2024 – Four-star edge rusher Max Granville.
June 26, 2024 – Four-star edge rusher Jayden Woods.
June 28, 2024 – Four-star wide receiver Jeff Exinor.
July 4, 2024 – Three-star linebacker LaVar Arrington II.
7. How the Lions’ Class of 2025 breaks down by position
Running Back: 3
Offensive Line: 3
Cornerback: 3
Defensive End – 3
Linebacker – 3
Safety – 2
Wide Receiver – 2
Tight End – 1
Quarterback – 1
8. How the Penn State Class of 2025 breaks down by state
Pennsylvania – 6
New Jersey – 3
California – 2
Arkansas – 1
Colorado – 1
Connecticut – 1
Florida – 1
Kansas – 1
Maryland -1
New York – 1
New Jersey – 1
Texas – 1
Virginia – 1
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