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Recipient Of Coveted #11 Jersey For Penn State Football Will Follow In Family’s Footsteps

Originally posted on BroBible | By Garrett Carr | Last updated Feb 13, 2025 11:51 PM ET

Around the country, there are a few jersey numbers that hold tradition through the years at various college football programs. The #11 jersey at Penn State is certainly one of the most famous of those traditions.

Abdul Carter is graduating, so that means that the #11 jersey is open. The number is being filled by a familiar name to football fans in Lavar Arrington Jr.

Lavar Arrington was the first big defensive star in the #11 jersey in Happy Valley. Arrington, a two-time All-American that swept the major defensive awards in 1999, was absolutely dominant at Penn State. He was the second-overall pick of the 2000 NFL Draft, with teammate, defensive end Courtney Brown going first-overall.

Since Arrington, Penn State stars like NaVarro Bomwan, Brandon Bell, Micah Parsons, and Abdul Carter have all worn the #11 jersey in recent years. That’s quite a a lineage, to say the least. Among Penn State fans, the discussion on who will wear #11 next is always a topic of discussion.

On Thursday, those fans got their answers.

BREAKING: LaVar Arrington II will be wearing #11 already as a true freshman.

His dad is a HUGE reason why the Sticks hold the weight that they do today. This should be very interesting to watch play out! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/sjVVSWn0V0

— Dylan Dawson (@PSU_Dylan) February 14, 2025

It will indeed be LaVar Arrington’s son, Lavar Arrington II, that will wear the jersey.

Arrington, ranked as the 134th-best recruit in the country by 247Sports, enrolled at Penn State in January. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 215lb, he projects to grow into a pass-rusher in a similar role to Abdul Carter. Obviously, he has a long ways to go to being as good as Carter, and odds are that he won’t. But, that’s the kind of role he will eventually play on a loaded Penn State defense.

Some thought it would go to rising junior Tony Rojas. But, it will stay in the family. Lavar Arrington II will certainly have big shoes to fill.

After a run to the College Football Playoff Semifinals in 2024, Penn State should start the season in the AP top 5. Key players like Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, Tony Rojas, and AJ Harris return.

This article first appeared on BroBible and was syndicated with permission.

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