Carrying one of the most recognizable names in Happy Valley, LaVar Arrington II has drawn attention since committing to Penn State and following in his father’s footsteps. After burning his redshirt as a freshman during the 2025 season, Arrington is now undergoing a position change under the Nittany Lions’ new coaching staff.
Although Arrington remains listed as a linebacker on Penn State’s official depth chart, he will continue his career at defensive end. New Penn State edge rushers coach Christian Smith confirmed the move with Tyler Donahue of Lions247 during a Wednesday media availability that featured all assistant coaches.
Arrington, who stands 6’3″ and weighs approximately 220 pounds, has been given a target weight of 225 pounds by the time spring practice arrives. The move places him at a position that has been a cornerstone of Penn State’s defense over the past decade, with players such as Micah Parsons, Chop Robinson, Abdul Carter, and Dani Dennis-Sutton all thriving along the edge.
Arrington enrolled at Penn State in January 2025 as a four-star prospect from Charter Oak High School in Covina, California. He is the son of College Football Hall of Fame inductee LaVar Arrington, a former All-American linebacker who starred for the Nittany Lions in the late 1990s.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.During the 2025 season, Arrington appeared in seven games, contributing exclusively on special teams. While he logged significant practice reps at linebacker, he did not see defensive snaps as the staff evaluated his long-term development.
Arrington’s move to defensive end leaves sophomore Alex Tatsch and redshirt freshman Cam Smith as the remaining linebackers from the 2025 recruiting class. He now joins an edge group that lost four of its top five contributors by snap count from last season, creating a clear opportunity for growth and early impact.
