Going into the 2025 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will examine each player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover the player’s background, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season.
Being the son of a legendary player can leave some big expectations on a young player. Will that be a burden or serve as inspiration? We will soon find out with freshman linebacker LaVar Arrington II, the son of College Football Hall of Fame linebacker and Nittany Lions legend LaVar Arrington. The younger Arrington has already been an easy player to spot in spring practices this year and fans will be waiting to see what comes in the future with Arrington II looking to carry the torch for Linebacker U.
Preseason Player Profile
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland
Height: 6-3
Weight: 212 lb
Class in 2025: Freshman
Recruiting Rankings
Class of 2025: 4 stars | No. 11 in California | No. 10 overall linebacker
LaVar Arrington II was a standout high school football star for Charter Oak in California and was rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and other recruiting outlets. Being the son of a Penn State icon made him an easy player to put at the top of the wish list on the recruiting trail for James Franklin and his staff. Penn State was considered an easy favorite by many, but the Nittany Lions did have to fend off Tennessee and UCLA for his commitment.
Depth Chart Overview
The big question for LaVar Arrington II may be just how soon we see him on the field causing chaos the way his father once did. Despite the accolades as a recruit, do not expect Arrington II to be jumping over any lines of scrimmage just yet. Penn State is pretty set at the top of the depth chart with Dominic DeLuca in the new defensive scheme,e and the Nittany Lions do have some alternative options more likely to get the first calls when needed, including Keon Wylie and Anthony Speca. Penn State will also explore some transfer portal options for some linebacker depth and experience. While we may see Arrington II on the field in small doses, the focus may be more on 2026 or 2027 before he starts to have any serious impact.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 2025 Penn State Football: Lavar Arrington II’s player profile
Going into the 2025 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will examine each player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover the player’s background, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season.
Being the son of a legendary player can leave some big expectations on a young player. Will that be a burden or serve as inspiration? We will soon find out with freshman linebacker LaVar Arrington II, the son of College Football Hall of Fame linebacker and Nittany Lions legend LaVar Arrington. The younger Arrington has already been an easy player to spot in spring practices this year and fans will be waiting to see what comes in the future with Arrington II looking to carry the torch for Linebacker U.
Preseason Player Profile
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland
Height: 6-3
Weight: 212 lb
Class in 2025: Freshman
Recruiting Rankings
Class of 2025: 4 stars | No. 11 in California | No. 10 overall linebacker
LaVar Arrington II was a standout high school football star for Charter Oak in California and was rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and other recruiting outlets. Being the son of a Penn State icon made him an easy player to put at the top of the wish list on the recruiting trail for James Franklin and his staff. Penn State was considered an easy favorite by many, but the Nittany Lions did have to fend off Tennessee and UCLA for his commitment.
Depth Chart Overview
The big question for LaVar Arrington II may be just how soon we see him on the field causing chaos the way his father once did. Despite the accolades as a recruit, do not expect Arrington II to be jumping over any lines of scrimmage just yet. Penn State is pretty set at the top of the depth chart with Dominic DeLuca in the new defensive scheme,e and the Nittany Lions do have some alternative options more likely to get the first calls when needed, including Keon Wylie and Anthony Speca. Penn State will also explore some transfer portal options for some linebacker depth and experience. While we may see Arrington II on the field in small doses, the focus may be more on 2026 or 2027 before he starts to have any serious impact.
Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 2025 Penn State Football: Lavar Arrington II’s player profile
