We had a chance to see Covina (Calif.) Charter Oak linebacker/edge LaVar Arrington Jr. in person for the first time this offseason at the recent Battle of the Beach Tournament, where he was one of the top defensive players. Arrington, son of former Penn State All-American linebacker LaVar Arrington, has long intrigued us with his combination of size and athleticism. He played mostly as a standup outside pass rusher as a junior, totaling 65 tackles and 12 sacks. He possesses a fluid, loose, basketball-type body and looks close to 6-4, 215 now with plenty of room to fill out.
Arrington played middle linebacker this past weekend and looked comfortable in space, running down plays from sideline to sideline. He runs well for a longer athlete and clocked an encouraging 11.18-second 100-meter time in the spring. Arrington said Penn State plans to use him as a hybrid outside linebacker and designated pass rusher, which is a really good role for him. Previously rated with a high three-star 87 grade, Arrington rises to a highest three-star rating of 89 after the live evaluation, and we’ll continue to monitor closely this fall. — Greg Biggins, 247Sports national scouting analyst
