UCLA Football: Bruins Offer Scholarship To Son Of Legendary NFL Linebacker
If you followed the sport of football in the 1990s, the name LaVar Arrington likely rings a bell.
A freak of an athlete, Arrington starred at Penn State before becoming the No. 2 Overall Pick in the 2000 NFL draft. Some considered Arrington the best linebacker to come into the league since Lawrence Taylor.
Though he did make three Pro Bowl appearances and two All-Pro teams, Arrington didn't exactly live up to the hype he brought from his amateur days playing under Joe Paterno.
Nearly two decades later, Arrington is back in the news -- though not for the reason you may think.
According to his son, LaVar Arrington II, the 2025 DE/OLB prospect earned a scholarship offer from UCLA. It reportedly came directly from head coach Chip Kelly.
Arrington II plays at Charter Oak High School in Covina -- a suburb roughly an hour from UCLA's campus. Arrington's father had reportedly settled in Los Angeles years ago after growing up in Pennsylvania.
When looking at his tape, there's a lot to like about the young prospect. Listed at both 6'3" and 6'4" depending on which recruiting service you utilize, Arrington II has impressive length with the frame to put on 'good' weight.
His first-step quickness is evident. Arrington II isn't a stiff player. On the contrary, he plays with tremendous bend and pursuit. While not as bulky as his father was, he is eerily similar build-wise to recent Washington DE Bralen Trice (a projected 2024 first-round pick).
This is somewhat of a significant offer for UCLA. As has been chronicled time and time again, Kelly isn't one to offer prospects at a high clip. If the Bruins do extend an offer, it's genuinely because they feel as if they've got a chance to earn a commitment.
Arrington II clearly has great bloodlines, and his athletic ability caters to the notion that his best football is ahead of him. Last year as a junior, Arrington II notched 12.0 sacks, 14.0 TFL, and 65 total tackles.
He reportedly holds offers from UCLA, Penn State, Washington, Utah, Oregon State, San Diego State, Nevada, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Boston College.
