Penn State Seeks Optimal Role for Explosive Sophomore Arrington II

Head coach Matt Campbell sees versatile potential in LaVar Arrington II, son of Nittany Lions legend.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:24pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a football player's movements broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes in navy, green, and orange, conveying the explosive physicality and versatility of the player.Penn State's coaching staff is exploring how to best harness the raw athleticism and versatility of sophomore defender LaVar Arrington II.Penn State Erie Today

Penn State head coach Matt Campbell is searching for the best way to maximize the early impact of sophomore defensive player LaVar Arrington II, son of former Nittany Lions star LaVar Arrington. Campbell sees Arrington II as an explosive and dynamic athlete with the potential to contribute on defense and special teams, but is still determining the optimal role for the young player, whether as a linebacker, edge rusher, hybrid defender, or special teams standout.

Why it matters

Arrington II comes with high expectations as the son of a Penn State legend, and the coaching staff is eager to find ways to get him involved and contributing as soon as possible. Developing young defensive talent is crucial for the Nittany Lions, who are looking to rebuild their edge rush and linebacker corps. How they utilize Arrington II could have significant implications for the team's defensive performance in the upcoming season.

The details

Arrington II saw limited action as a freshman in 2025, playing primarily on special teams. But his flashes of explosiveness and physicality have already caught the attention of coach Campbell, who is now trying to determine the best way to deploy the sophomore. Campbell says Arrington II's first few steps are 'wow moments' and that he is 'so strong' with 'great hips and hands.' The coach is weighing whether Arrington II is best suited as a linebacker, edge rusher, hybrid defender, or special teams standout, with the goal of getting him involved and making an impact as quickly as possible.

  • Arrington II burned his redshirt in 2025, appearing in 7 games and playing 41 total snaps, mostly on special teams.
  • Campbell got his first extended look at Arrington II during Penn State's preparation for the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl.

The players

Matt Campbell

The head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team, who is evaluating how best to utilize sophomore defensive player LaVar Arrington II.

LaVar Arrington II

A sophomore defensive player at Penn State, and the son of former Nittany Lions star LaVar Arrington. Arrington II is an explosive and physical athlete who has shown potential on special teams and is being considered for various defensive roles.

Will McDonald IV

A former defensive lineman that Campbell coached at Iowa State, who developed into a three-time All-Big 12 player and an NFL pass rusher, providing a model for how Campbell may be able to maximize Arrington II's talents.

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What they’re saying

“I think there's a lot of things he can do to help our football team right away.”

— Matt Campbell, Head Coach, Penn State Nittany Lions

“What I love about LaVar, I got to watch four or five bowl practices and then you watch his special teams reps last year. You watch him run down on kickoff and some of the plays he makes. He's explosive and he's dynamic. His first couple steps are what I would say are wow moments. It's like, how do we put LaVar in the best situation to impact the team as fast as we possibly can?”

— Matt Campbell, Head Coach, Penn State Nittany Lions

“I think what's deceiving with LaVar is he is so strong. He's violent through his hips, he's got great hands, and I think finding that right weight will be really critical.”

— Matt Campbell, Head Coach, Penn State Nittany Lions

What’s next

Campbell and the Penn State coaching staff will continue to evaluate Arrington II's abilities during spring and summer practices, with the goal of determining the best way to utilize his talents and get him involved in the defense and special teams as quickly as possible.

The takeaway

Arrington II's combination of explosiveness, physicality, and special teams prowess has the Penn State coaching staff excited about his potential, but they are still working to find the optimal role for the young player. How they choose to deploy him could have a significant impact on the Nittany Lions' defensive performance in the upcoming season.