For a program nicknamed “Linebacker U,” there’s plenty of competition for the title of the best at the position in Penn State history. But when it comes to raw athleticism, today’s player is unparalleled in the Nittany Lion annals.

The second Penn Stater in the 44 for 44 is LaVar Arrington.

LaVar Arrington made headlines as early as high school, when he became just the second player in the history of Pennsylvania’s AAAA division to rush for over 4000 yards in his career, adding 72 touchdowns in his four years.  Among the most celebrated players in the country, Arrington was named the Gatorade Player of the Year, the Bobby Dodd Offensive Player of the Year, the Parade Magazine Player of the Year, and the USA Today Player of the Year from Pennsylvania.  Oh, and that was just in football.  Arrington also stood out in basketball and track and field, and was recruited by such powerhouses in the former as North Carolina and Georgetown.  Weighing scholarship offers from just about every major program in the country, Arrington chose to stay home, and chose Penn State.  In Arrington, Penn State earned a commitment from a recruit considered by many to be the best in the country.

So, yeah, to say that the hype surrounding Arrington was abundant would be a pretty major understatement.  Possessing the greatest combination of size, speed, and strength of any player in Penn State history, the only question was, “how fast could it all come together?”

As a true freshman, Arrington was initially buried on the depth chart, but worked his way onto the field.  LaVar saw mainly reserve minutes at the onset of the season, but quickly found himself Penn State’s fourth linebacker.  Starting one game, against Purdue, Arrington accumulated 26 tackles, and 2 sacks.

It didn’t take long for it all to come together for the freakishly athletic Arrington.  As a true sophomore, Arrington started all but the first game of the season at outside linebacker, and it didn’t take long before he established himself as one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten, and in the country.  A disruptive force, Arrington led the team with 67 tackles–49 solo–and his 7 sacks and 17.5 tackles for a loss were the most of any Penn State linebacker.  Arrington even added solid pass coverage, breaking up 11 passes, intercepting two, and returning one of those for an interception.

It was in the 7th game of this season when Arrington made the most famous play of his Penn State career, jumping not just the snap count, but the entire Illinois offensive line, in blowing up a 4th-and-1 rush.

Named an All-American and the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year, Arrington set the bar pretty high for his junior season.

It wasn’t just Arrington who had to live up to expectations, but the Nittany Lion team, ranked 3rd in the country in the preseason, was in a similar situation.  It would be Arrington leading the charge–along with Brandon Short, Courtney Brown, and David Macklin, he was part of a Penn State defensive core that had to be among the best in recent history.  So said Sports Illustrated in their 1999 season preview:

If Thompson is anything better than adequate at quarterback, Paterno’s dominating defense will send the Nittany Lions to the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4 for a shot at his third national championship.

And early on, it seemed liked Penn State was destined to live up to the hype.  Racing out to a 9-0 record, the Nittany Lions looked like worldbeaters–only 3 of those games were even close.  An early season win in Miami put an end to a war of words between Arrington and the Hurricanes’ standout linebacker Dan Morgan, just as Miami dared to deign themselves the new Linebacker U, and a two-touchdown win against Ohio State proved the team’s mettle.  The early season was not without drama, though, as Penn State needed a last-second blocked field goal against Pittsburgh, coming from who else but Arrington, to preserve a win against the rival Panthers.

But, as we all know, Minnesota came in to Happy Valley and shocked the then-No. 2 Nittany Lions, when Dan Nystrom drilled a 32-yard field goal as time expired, to give the Gophers a 24-23 edge.  As Minnesota marched the ball 68 yards in just 1:50, the packed house in Beaver Stadium could just watch, as their dominating defense fell apart.  And though Arrington came close to blocking Nystrom’s kick–as he had done twice before that season–he too fell just short.  The dream season was over.

And following that defeat, the wheels came off for Penn State.  With two games remaining, against #5 Michigan and #7 Michigan State, Penn State failed to rebound, losing both by a combined 11 points.  Against Michigan, too, Penn State’s defense failed to protect a late lead, as the Wolverines converted a short field into the game winning touchdown, with under two minutes left to play.  Though Penn State finally bounced back in the Alamo Bowl, trouncing Texas A&M 24-0 to finish the year ranked 11th, it was a sad reminder of what could have been, were in not for a freshman kicker, on a cold November day.

But through it all, Arrington excelled.  LaVar improved on his stellar sophomore season, with 72 tackles, 20 for a loss, and 9 sacks.  The Butkus and Lambert Award winner as the best linebacker in the country, Arrington was also named the Bednarik Award winner, as college football’s best defender.  For the second time, LaVar was named an All-American, and even received a handful of Heisman votes, finishing ninth.

Arrington declared for the NFL draft following his junior year, and was selected 2nd by the Washington Redskins, right after his teammate Courtney Brown.  Before chronic injuries derailed a promising NFL career, Arrington had been a 3-time pro bowler for Washington, and twice an All-Pro selection.  He maintains a close relationship with Penn State, having mentored such standouts as Derrick Williams, Aaron Maybin, and Navorro Bowman.

Up next in the 44 for 44 series is Kenny Jackson.