Penn State football updates LaVar Arrington's position, jersey numbers

The new Penn State football roster and its new coaching staff will hit the field for the first time together during spring drills later this month.

And there will be a host of new uniform numbers — and a couple of significant position changes — as head coach Matt Campbell gets it all started.

The updated roster, released this week, includes three young players solidifying new positions for the 2026 season. The headliner is sophomore LaVar Arrington II shifting from linebacker to defensive end — a move Abdul Carter made before his All-American season in 2024.

The change could get Arrington on the field sooner with the Lions in need of restocking their edge rushers.

Backup Caleb Brewer (6-foot-4, 302 pounds) has gone from offensive to defensive line and rookie Amarion Jackson will work as a wide receiver after initially being listed as an “athlete” on the roster.

The newest Penn State football pass rusher, LaVar Arrington II

Arrington showed enough promise last year to burn his redshirt playing on special teams.

He owns the pedigree, size (6-foot-3 and 220 pounds) and athleticism, at least early on at Penn State, reminiscent of his do-everything, hall of fame father by the same name.

Arrington will help fill out a thin, unproven defensive end group featuring sophomore Yvan Kemajou, redshirt freshman Max Granville and transfers Alexander McPherson and Ike Ezeogu.

Arrington, it should be noted, will keep his father’s famous No. 11 jersey.

Here are the uniform numbers for Penn State’s newest players, including transfers and incoming freshmen:

New Penn State football uniform numbers

Quarterbacks: Rocco Becht (3), Alex Manske (7), Kase Evans (12), Peyton Falzone (14), Connor Barry (17)

Running backs: Carson Hansen (21), James Peoples (23), D’Antae Sheffey (29)

Wide receivers: Chase Sowell (0), Zay Robinson (2), Brett Eskildsen (4), Karon Brookins (8), Keith Jones Jr. (15), Amarion Jackson (19), Ben Whitver (81)

Tight ends: Benjamin Brahmer (18), Cooper Alexander (80), Gabe Burkle (84)

Offensive linemen: Brock Riker (51), Vaea Ikakoula (54), Mason Bandhauer (56), Will Tompkins (66), Trevor Buhr (70), Tyshon Huff (72), Kuol Kuol II (74), Hunter Albright (76)

Defensive linemen: LaVar Arrington II (11), Alexander McPherson (33), Alijah Carnell (56), Caleb Brewer (73), Ikenna Ezeogu (88), Jackson Ford (89), Armstrong Nnodim (91), Siale Taupaki (92), Keanu Williams (97), Dallas Vakalahi (98)

Linebackers: Kooper Ebel (8), Cael Brezina (9), Caleb Bacon (10), John Klosterman (32), Chris Fileppo (34)

Defensive backs: Justin Patton (3), Jeremiah Cooper (4), Josiah Zayas (17), Tyrell Chatman (20), Ibn McDaniels (24), Omarion Davis (27), Bryson Williams (28), Hunter Sowell (29), Christian Askew (30), Marcus Neal Jr. (31)

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football updates LaVar Arrington position, jersey numbers