LaVar Arrington

Bio

Known for the "LaVar Leap" where he would jump over the offensive line, LaVar Arrington was one of the most feared linebackers in the late 1990s. The Pittsburgh native became the 19th Penn State player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022. He racked up 173 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and three interceptions during his career. The 12th Nittany Lion ever selected as a two-time First Team All-American, Arrington earned unanimous honors in 1999. That year he was also the recipient of the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker and the Bednarik Award as the country's top defensive player. A two-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree, Arrington became the first sophomore to ever be named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year when he received the honor in 1998. The 1999 Jack Lambert Award recipient led the Nittany Lions to three bowl games, including wins in the 1999 Outback Bowl and the 1999 Alamo Bowl. The second overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Washington Football Team, Arrington played for Washington from 2000-05 and then for the New York Giants in 2006. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

Career Highlights

• 1999 Bednarik Award Winner
• 1999 Butkus Award Winner
• 1999 First Team All-America
• 1999 First Team All-Big Ten
• 1999 Heisman - Ninth
• 1999 Lambert Award Winner
• 1998 Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year
• 1998 First Team All-America
• 1998 First Team All-Big Ten