Penn State Legend LaVar Arrington Elected To College Football Hall Of Fame
Former Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington will officially join the College Football Hall of Fame’s 2022 class, as announced Thursday morning on Arrington’s Two Pros and a Cup of Joe radio show.
The Nittany Lion legend later confirmed his impending induction with a post to his Twitter account, showing off a commemorative football from the National Football Foundation.
As the 25th Nittany Lions player or coach to be selected for the College Football Hall of Fame, Arrington will join the likes of Jack Ham, John Cappelletti, Kerry Collins, and Joe Paterno upon his induction into the hall. Current Penn State safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter was inducted last year as a member of the Virginia Cavaliers.
Arguably the greatest linebacker in Penn State history, Arrington’s stint from 1997 to 1999 was an important catalyst for the program’s “LBU” moniker. His “LaVar Leap,” in which he vaulted the Illinois offensive line to make a critical fourth down stop, has aged as one of the most recognizable plays in the sport.
In his final season at Penn State, Arrington recorded 72 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, two fumble recoveries, two kick blocks, and an interception. As a result, Arrington won the Bednarik Award (for best overall defensive player), the Butkus Award (for best linebacker), and the Lambert Award (also for best linebacker). Arrington was also earned consensus All-American honors and received the ninth-most votes in the 1999 Heisman Award selection process.
Following the 1999 season, Arrington skipped his senior season and declared for the NFL Draft. He was selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Redskins immediately after fellow Nittany Lion Courtney Brown was selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns.
Arrington played six seasons with Washington, where he compiled 401 tackles (43 for a loss), 22.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, three interceptions, and a touchdown. He was also selected for three consecutive Pro Bowls between 2001 and 2003.
Public feuds with the Washington coaching staff led to Arrington’s departure. After signing a lucrative seven-year contract with the New York Giants, Arrington ruptured his Achilles tendon midseason and was later released, effectively bringing Arrington’s professional playing career to a close.
Currently, Arrington works as a sports broadcaster and analyst. He is best known for his football commentary on the FS1 talk show “Speak For Yourself” with Marcellus Wiley and Emmanuel Acho.
More College Football Hall of Fame selections will be announced as the year continues. Two additional Nittany Lions, linebacker Paul Posluszny and offensive lineman Stephen Wisniewski, were also listed on the ballot and may be similarly recognized.
Arrington and the remaining honorees are set to be inducted on December 6, 2022.
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