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Best Penn State football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore

By Cody Williams

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions walks on the field during the second half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl against the Washington Huskies at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions walks on the field during the second half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl against the Washington Huskies at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Best Penn State football players ever
Penn State football – Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport /

As a high school prospect in the state of Pennsylvania, Lavar Arrington was a flat-out monster. Playing linebacker and running back at North Hills in Pittsburgh, he was the 1996 Parade National Player of the Year and for good reason as he dominated on both sides of the ball. So when he arrived at Penn State, expectations were rightfully high for the force he could be.

Sticking at linebacker for the Nittany Lions, Arrington lived up to the hype once he reached the college ranks. He was an unbelievable blend of speed, athleticism and physicality who would seemingly make plays no one else in college football could. Perhaps the best example was the famed “Lavar Leap” as he hurdled the O-line to tackle a running back.

Throughout his career, Arrington wasn’t just making his way onto SportsCenter with highlight-reel plays. His overall performance allowed him to rack up one accolade after another. He was a two-time All-American with the Nittany Lions as well as being First-Team All-Big Ten twice as well. And that wasn’t all.

Arrington continued to clean up in the 1999 season, one of the most decorated ever for a linebacker, as he won the Dick Butkus and Chuck Bednarik Awards. His exploits at Penn State led to Arrington being the No. 2 pick in the 2000 NFL Draft and, while his pro career never panned out as hoped, his greatness for the Nittany Lions isn’t up for debate.

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