You got the impression he was like "superman", who could do anything, including taking a game over all by himself like against Texas A&M in I believe his last bowl game. Has anyone else come close to this "freakish" athleticism?
Was Lavar the most "Freakish" athlete who wore a Penn State football uniform?
- Thread starter Jerademan74
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maybe omar easy could make the same page... courtney brown... a few others whose names ain't coming to mind but it really doesn't matter. none, imo, approached LA. all one has to do is watch his highlight reel and it's pretty apparent what kind of athlete we were blessed to have had.
I don't know what you mean by the word "freakish." Cut? Chisled? Sure, if we're talking looks.
But it's safe to say, we've seen more "freakish" performers inside the lines.
Freakish means having almost "super human" abilities, like flying over the line to tackle a RB who barely got the handoff! AKA: "The Lavar Leap"!
Really? How many times did Lavar perform this feat? Freakish would imply it was a frequent occurrence. Once is not freakish.
I seem to remember this kid named McGuffie in Texas who leaped over LB's in HS. He was a freak, so the film said. He got to college and it never happened once thereafter.
I haven't seen many freakish players in college ball. Barry Sanders might have been the last.
There have been a lot of very gifted athletes to pass through Happy Valley. Certainly Lavar was one of them. I don't have any idea how they could be rated. I remember Derek "Cameron" Wake also having some incredible measurable as far as speed, jumping ability, etc...
I just remember Lavar looking like a man among boys just standing on the field warming up during his first Blue-White game. My friends and I pointed him out and started wondering who the heck he was, you could just tell he was a freak of nature before he even played a down. There was just something about him.
I would put Oakman for Baylor in the same category today. He just has that appearance where you know he's a freakish athlete.
I would put Oakman for Baylor in the same category today. He just has that appearance where you know he's a freakish athlete.
Yes, Lavar was a freak, but an honorable mention goes out to a player that ran the ball would be Aaron Harris. He was a freak running the ball. One of my all time favorite players.
I'm not even sure he was the most freakish athlete on that defense. Courtney Brown ran a faster 40 at the Combine, didn't he?
After losing to some members of the football team in the IM basketball finals, I will say Lavar is the best athlete Ive seen. He can jump out of the gym, strong, fast etc. #2 would be Joe Jurevicious for the same reasons. Those two could have played hoops here as undersized 4's.
In his era, I would put Ted Kwalick in that category. He was a 2 time All American at tight end....finished 4th in the Heisman balloting.....was a 1st round draft pick of the 49'ers....made the College Football Hall of Fame....and was a 3 time All Pro. I saw him play in high school and college and he could dominate a game. He had size and speed. I remember an on-side kick he returned for a touchdown against Army in a 4 point Penn State win. It was Ted that Joe was referring to when he said "What God had in mind there was a football player."
One badass dude.
One badass dude.
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I've always thought of the leap as one thing, the block on the pitt kick another (he regularly leaped over blockers)... but neither defined his play. simply watch the highlight reel, then tell me who you've seen who had more... been watching this game since the early 60s and psu since the late 60's and not many come to mind. cam wake had higher end athleticism and might be a close second. But LA was in a different class because of the things he could do that no one else could.
Ki-Jana Carter (an amazing blend of speed, power, and balance) and Mike Reid (exceptional strength and quickness) would be somewhere on the list.
It's early in his career, but I've read Mike Gesicki has unusual athletic ability.
It's early in his career, but I've read Mike Gesicki has unusual athletic ability.
Lavar was a freakish athlete and was able to transition that ability to the playing field. Same with Courtney brown. A few other guys that had off the chart athleticism were Omar easy, Derek wake and Ethan Kilmer. All three just came to psu very raw and it took them some time to put things together. For wake it didn't happen until after he graduated.
40 does not determine the better athlete. Arrington was also consistently running 4.3something heading into the combine. He was determined to shock the world and choked a bit. Courtney was too robotic, which was a big criticism of his NFL days. If he played more reckless, his athletic ability might have showed up more to rival LaVar's freakish ability.
Arrington combined speed, size, and strength with instincts and reckless abandon. A rare combination. Unfortunately, his reliance on athleticism, instinct, and reckless abandon did not serve him well in the NFL. He wasn't disciplined on the field, meaning he did not adapt well to a system, which is a key to success in the big leagues.
I just remember how Lavar could start going in one direction at the start of a play, and quickly adjust to what and where the ball was. That strategy with average or even above average athletic ability would allow major yardage. However, this was productive for the defense with Lavar's ability.
Along with what is mentioned above, I think changing defensive coordinators and possibly lack of lower body strength affected his pro career.
Along with what is mentioned above, I think changing defensive coordinators and possibly lack of lower body strength affected his pro career.
I agree with what you are saying, just wanted to make sure that Brown was not ignored as much as put him above Arrington. That said, I thought Brown was a better player at Penn State, though not as flashy.
I played football at North Hills where Lavar played about 12 years after he left. Coach McCurry would occasionally show us his highlight tape. There were multiple Lavar Leaps. But my favorite play was as he was lined up to punt for us, the ball is snapped over his head into the back of the endzone and he goes and picks it up and run 107 yards for a touchdown
I do not believe that LaVar Arrington ever played a game at PSU where he was not the best player on the field. He was like a defensive Randy Moss in that when he played all-out, nobody could touch him.
Sorry but I am in the camp that Brown was a better athlete than Arrington. I can't imagine what he would have been like with a Matt Millen type disposition.
Lavar's flying tackles and simply running through a ball carrier instead of wrapping up were not as effective in the NFL where the players were stronger and more skilled at breaking tackles. I saw Jeremy Shockey shrug Lavar off his shoulders like a bothersome mosquito and score an easy touchdown when Lavar left his feet to tackle Shockey high.
FREAK.
Has anyone ever in their lives seen a defender steal a handoff? I'll even grant you the opportunity to say you saw it in HS ball. Unbelievable.
When I was on the sideline down in Miami, it was clear that the Canes feared one guy. The more they talked, the more you could tell they feared him. Why? Because he was a Miami-type athlete and then some -- big, fast and mean.
Those highlights are just...freakish.
In his era, I would put Ted Kwalick in that category. He was a 2 time All American at tight end....finished 4th in the Heisman balloting.....was a 1st round draft pick of the 49'ers....made the College Football Hall of Fame....and was a 3 time All Pro. I saw him play in high school and college and he could dominate a game. He had size and speed. I remember an on-side kick he returned for a touchdown against Army in a 4 point Penn State win. It was Ted that Joe was referring to when he said "What God had in mind there was a football player."
One badass dude.
I agree Ted Kwalick was a great just like Lavar. There were also guys like Dennis Onkotz, Mike Reid and Dan Radakovich that had some of the same qualities that often get overlooked because they are old school.
Yep. The younger posters here never saw those guys play and unless you do, you can't appreciate how great they were in their era. They were great athletes and, with today's training methods, they would be even better than they were then.
While I agree to a certain extent, LaVar was more than an effective linebacker at the NFL level until his injuries. He was an All-Pro three times in his six seasons, and I'd argue that that trajectory would have continued had he not hurt his knee and torn his Achilles. I think had he had a full career, he's easily in the Hall of Fame conversation at both the college and pro levels. Even the best football players in the history of the game get beaten on occasion, and LaVar was no different.
i don't know. our kicker (big toe or whatever his name is) seems pretty freakish..
Great athlete, probably, but too bad he was not a team player. His antics in the Minnesota game cost us the game and possibly a national championship.
Lavar athletically with size was best pure athlete I ever saw but he was afforded a lot of freedom to play fast, take chances and play out of position by Brandon short who covered his behind on many occasions. Brandon Short allowed Lavar to be Lavar, if he had to be disciplined I don't think the results would have been very good.
Kijana was special, Enis for his size was amazing. Aaron Harris pre knee was somewhat of a freak. DJ Dozier, a guy who played 2 sports in professional levels has to be viewed as a freak. Same with OJ who could get around a baseball field quite well. How about Gelz, drafted as a pitcher, played linebacker at a high college level. you have to be some kind of athlete to compete at that level in multiple sports.
Kijana was special, Enis for his size was amazing. Aaron Harris pre knee was somewhat of a freak. DJ Dozier, a guy who played 2 sports in professional levels has to be viewed as a freak. Same with OJ who could get around a baseball field quite well. How about Gelz, drafted as a pitcher, played linebacker at a high college level. you have to be some kind of athlete to compete at that level in multiple sports.
Game, set, match. If the criteria is freakish ability, there is no other, forget the measurables (which were amazing), it's just plain to see.
That highlight reel would rival any freakish feets you could put up for the true greats.....I'm talking Jim Brown / Barry Sanders types. With nods to the old timers, the total number of players playing college football back then (as a % of the population) and how the game has gotten faster and faster, it would be a statistical anomaly to say there was one better or "you just didn't see him".
I was at the game when Lavar completely demolished that quarterback from Ohio State and it seemed like a bolt of lightning came down from heaven and hit that guy. You got the rare feeling that it wasn't fair and they may have to make extra rules for the guy to protect everyone else.
I love the Drew Brees highlight--just swallowed him up like a great white on a seal pup, and you're talking a hall of fame, extremely mobile quarterback.
Drew Brees said it himself.......Lavar was a freak.
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