Following in the footsteps of his All-American father, three-star outside linebacker LaVar Arrington II is heading to Penn State after announcing his commitment on Thursday.

Arrington II, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound two-way player, chose his father’s alma mater over Tennessee and UCLA. He’s ranked as the No. 38 athlete in the Class of 2025 by the 247Sports composite.

A native of Covina, Calif., the younger Arrington compiled 12 sacks and 65 tackles in 2023 as a junior at Charter Oak High School.

“They started off with checking in on me making sure everything was good with me,” Arrington II told 247Sports. “Then they told me that I have a full ride with them. But the thing that caught me was when they said they weren’t offering me for the name but for the way I play football. Quoting (coach) James Franklin: ‘If your last name wasn’t Arrington, we would still offer you.'”

Reigning national champion Michigan, Washington and Colorado were among the more than 10 other programs to make offers to Arrington II.

The elder Arrington is one of the Nittany Lions’ all-time greats, earning consecutive All-American selections, including a unanimous selection in 1999. He also won the Chuck Bednarik and Butkus Awards and the Jack Lambert Trophy in 1999 for his standout defensive efforts.

Arrington was also a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and the 1998 Co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2000 draft by the Washington Redskins, he was a two-time second-team All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowl selection before spending his final NFL season with the New York Giants.

–Field Level Media