Ohio State Buckeyes EDGE Arvell Reese appears destined to become a top-five pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
In fact, the New York Jets have reportedly for the No. 2 overall pick to Reese and Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey. The Las Vegas Raiders have the No. 1 pick and are expected to take Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza
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Surprisingly, Reese said he did not work on formal pass-rush technique at Ohio State. During a film session with ESPN draft analyst Benjamin Solak, Reese broke down one of his moves.
I was watching film with Arvell Reese and then he told me he never spent time at Ohio State working on pass rush and pretty much was making up all his moves on instinct alone. pic.twitter.com/bd4DHu967E
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) April 9, 2026
According to Solak, Reese reached a top speed 18.8 mph while rushing the Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback. The pressure resulted in an incomplete pass.
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“I didn’t even have a name for what I just did,” Reese said. “But now that I’m working on pass rushing right now and studying and everything, I’m realizing right here I showed power, which made him shoot his hands. That’s when I threw the cross-chop.”
The 6-foot-4, 241-pound Reese recorded 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and two passes defended in 2025. As a result, he was a consensus All-American. Reese began to emerge toward the end of the 2024 campaign, helping the Buckeyes win the national championship.
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Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pursues Michigan Wolverines running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24). | The Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Images
Reese’s instinct and raw talent make him an attractive NFL prospect. His perceived ceiling may be even higher for NFL teams when they realize he hasn’t done much work on pass-rushing technique.
“Reese has the dynamic talent to play a variety of different linebacker or edge roles at a high level, although his ceiling as a pass rusher is his most valuable asset. It is hard to find versatile defenders with his caliber of explosive tools,” wrote The Athletic’s Dane Brugler in a draft profile of Reese.
The Ohio State defensive coaching staff had plenty of expertise to offer Reese. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and was an NFL head coach. Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis is a Buckeyes legend and enjoyed an eight-year NFL career.
The Ohio State staff may have decided to let Reese use his natural ability to get to Big Ten quarterbacks.
The 2026 NFL Draft begins April 23 in Pittsburgh. The first round will be televised by ESPN and NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET.