Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1525333
5 2 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M you watch him with backfield sacks and tackles and how he disengages blocks and his quarterback pressures, he's just relentless and ruthless with his pursuit of the ball. "What I've been probably most im- pressed with — which many kids at his age haven't mastered yet — are his hips through contact. It's just incredible. His ability to play in space and get open-field tackles really stands out. His pursuit of the football is awesome to watch." 'YOU CAN'T TEACH THAT MOTOR' There has been plenty of speculation about where the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Arrington will fit in Penn State's defense. Considering his size, linebacker would seem to make the most sense, but it's important to note that he's added about 20 pounds since the end of Charter Oak's 2023 season. "He's had a heck of an offseason, and that's a testament to his work ethic and his discipline," Farrar said. "He's just kept getting bigger, faster and stronger. What's even more impressive about that is that he also ran track for us this spring. … He's one of those kids that just knows how to strain. He's comfortable being uncomfortable, and that's been really re- warding to see." When you consider his overall growth in such a short amount of time, the de- bate over his eventual position — line- backer or defensive end — should be in- teresting to follow in the coming years. Defenses in the Big Ten are much differ- ent today than they were in the 1990s, but if he can bring even a portion of the athleticism that his father displayed at Penn State, there are a lot of ways in which coordinator Tom Allen could use him. Farrar said that Arrington's athletic ability, along with the football knowl- edge that he's gained from his father, are assets that will continue to boost his ca- reer. "That's a big reason why he's been able to hone in on his craft," Farrar said. "Having access to the best in the busi- ness to do it, plus his passion and his drive, that's what will make him a really good outside linebacker or defensive end type. "But with that in mind, he's an instant mismatch. He has that uncanny abil- ity where he can play off the edge or he can stand up and play in space. He could play inside, too. Wherever you put him, you're putting him someplace where you know he's just going to wreak havoc and exploit that mismatch. That's what's so fun about having him on your team. Wherever you line him up, everybody knows he's going to take advantage of his gifts and talents. "I'm excited to see what he does his senior year. You can't teach that motor. You can't coach that motor." ■ "He's never once gotten preferential treatment. He's never been anybody that's acted like he's entitled. He's just a humble, hungry kid who's cut from a different cloth." C H A R T E R O A K C O A C H D O M F A R R A R O N A R R I N G T O N In one of his most famous plays, LaVar Arrington (11) blocked a 52-yard field goal attempt in the f i n a l s e co n d s o f Pe n n St a te's matchup against Pitt in 1999, pre- serving the second-ranked Nittany Lions' 20-17 victory. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL