Penn State has updated the roster and LaVar Arrington II will wear No. 11 as a true freshman.
Football LaVar Arrington II will wear No. 11 as a freshman
- Thread starter Richie O
- Start date
Takes balls to embrace ( literally) that legacy. Sincere good luck to him.— I guess this falls under the adage “ to whom much is given, much is required “
— On a parallel note, “31” is still available for LB recruiting 😎
Wasn't Abdul Carter given 11 as a true freshman before playing a down? Parsons as well?
Seems premature to me........
I like it better when players prove themselves and then they switch to #11 after they have proven themselves a disruptive force on defense.....
I like it better when players prove themselves and then they switch to #11 after they have proven themselves a disruptive force on defense.....
I believe Navaro Bowman changed to #11 after he started to play at a high level.
This case is a little different. Maybe it was promised. Maybe the staff already can get a feeling about how good he's going to be from seeing him on campus. You pretty much have to give it to him, if you think about it. Let's say you give it to someone else and then young Arrington flashes even some of his father's ability. Do you then make the other player swap numbers? No. You're banking on him being the kind of player worthy of the number, so you give it to him now.
I agree that it is a Catch 22 and the right thing to do. But I've never been a fan of annoiting stars before they earned it- including Tiger, LeBron and others.
Once you've warrented the recognition based on achievement I change my tune. In this case PSU made the right call. Let's hope the kid is up to the task and wears it well.
If we can have a guy who catches the ball, I don't care if he wears 22 or any other number.
Number 11 has been worn by freshman that haven’t yet earned it….
I am incredibly excited about Lavar jr and his abilities. His father is my favorite PSU player of all time. There is tremendous pressure on him to live up to both his father‘s legacy and the number 11 legacy. Hopefully the coaches can help him manage that pressure and help him develop into a great player. He has a lot of s&c work ahead of him as well to fill out his frame to play LB in this conference.
In pro football, if a newly acquired player would like a specific number that another player has a 'deal' is often brokered between the 2 players.
Since AC is going to be drafted and has vacated the number, I would imagine that it's up to the coaches/staff/equipment manager to designate new player numbers. And no explicit deal as mentioned above would need to be made, at least with an existent player.
I have no idea what the current team protocol is for the number assignment of new players. It is just as plausible that the existing players knowing who LAII's father is and the number he wore, left it available for him to wear the number that he has shared with his father when he was in high school.
I don't believe that it puts any additional pressure on LAII that is not already there because of who he is.
As long as his teammates are good with his number assignment and everyone is on board, bring on LaVar 2.0.....
Since AC is going to be drafted and has vacated the number, I would imagine that it's up to the coaches/staff/equipment manager to designate new player numbers. And no explicit deal as mentioned above would need to be made, at least with an existent player.
I have no idea what the current team protocol is for the number assignment of new players. It is just as plausible that the existing players knowing who LAII's father is and the number he wore, left it available for him to wear the number that he has shared with his father when he was in high school.
I don't believe that it puts any additional pressure on LAII that is not already there because of who he is.
As long as his teammates are good with his number assignment and everyone is on board, bring on LaVar 2.0.....
And you can bet.. especially with his father not only being one of the best LB’s ever at PSU…but a great Pro as well… .. that Lavar Sr will be watching and working closely with his sons technique , physical growth etc…I like this move.. and in some respects pays homage to Arrington Seniors many contributions to the program.. then and now.. his son knows exactly what’s at stake wearing #11…
I really just want to know what happens when he plays Illinois and there is a handoff to the RB.
