St1x C1ty began at Penn State with LaVar Arrington, the All-American, Bednarik Award-winning linebacker who became the No. 2 overall selection in the 2001 NFL Draft. Since Arrington, the No. 11 has been passed from legend to legend, NaVorro Bowman to Brandon Bell to Micah Parson to Abdul Carter, and its legacy has perhaps grown even stronger than the program’s identity as Linebacker U. Now, the No. 11, with its two 180 degree angles, has come full circle.
With the early enrollment of much of Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class, the newest Nittany Lions received their jersey numbers for spring football. Wide receiver Koby Howard grabbed No. 3, cornerback Daryus Dixson took No. 5, and running back Tikey Hayes will don No. 25, but No. 11, unsurprisingly, went to Lavar Arrington II.
The incoming four-star linebacker is the newest citizen of St1x C1ty in Happy Valley, and while it’s something of a birthright for the son of one of Penn State’s biggest superstars, it’s also a significant honor for the freshman and a sign that James Franklin and his staff have high hopes for his career.
Arrington was a three-star recruit for much of the process, but the 6-foot-3 linebacker, who is listed at a modest 200 pounds on Penn State’s initial 2025 roster, shot up to four-star status around early national signing day when he officially joined the Nittany Lions. Arrington also considered UCLA and Tennessee; for much of the process, it wasn’t a sure thing that he would follow in his father’s footsteps.
The No. 11 in blue and white is always a popular jersey at Beaver Stadium but with Arrington’s arrival this fall coming on the heels of Carter’s remarkable career, sales might reach an all-time high. After winning the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, Carter has a chance to be the highest-draft member of St1x C1ty, in consideration for the top overall selection this spring.
The standard was already set sky-high for Penn State linebackers wearing No. 11, and Carter still managed to raise the bar. So, Nittany Lions fans will have big expectations for Arrington when he first takes the field this fall and becomes a full-time contributor in the future.