Arvell Reese is a linebacker and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who played three seasons at Ohio State. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Reese attended Glenville High School where he led the program to its first state championship in 2022, earning Division IV Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association and selection to the Army All-American Bowl. He was rated a four-star prospect, the fifth-ranked player in Ohio and the 19th linebacker nationally in the 2023 class. A concussion limited him to six games as a true freshman, and he worked primarily as a rotational player behind a loaded Buckeyes defense in 2024, posting 43 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and half a sack across 16 appearances. His 2025 season was a full breakout, as he became a full-time starter under coordinator Matt Patricia and registered 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks across 14 games, earning Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, First-Team All-Big Ten and consensus All-American honors before declaring for the draft following his junior season.
Standing 6-foot-4 and 243 pounds, Reese is the most physically imposing linebacker prospect in the 2026 class and combines his elite size with a verified 4.46-second 40-yard dash that makes him one of the most unique athletes at the position. He was deployed both as an off-ball linebacker and as an edge rusher from a two-point stance at Ohio State, giving him a versatile alignment background that excites evaluators. His instincts as a run defender are advanced for a player with limited starting experience, and his tackling technique is among the most technically sound in the class. The primary question centers on his coverage ability, specifically his lateral agility and short-area quickness in man coverage against speed backs and slot receivers. Multiple evaluators compare him to Micah Parsons given his athleticism and hybrid profile. The consensus view places him as a top-five overall pick with high-end starting upside as an impact pass rusher and run stopper at the NFL level.
