Arvell Reese is having one of the most important weeks of his life. The Ohio State Buckeyes prospect, who’s been mocked to go top 10 in many projections, is present at the NFL Combine before the 2026 draft. Even though he played in multiple positions during his time with the Buckeyes, his preference is clear.
Arvell Reese Wants To Focus on Rushing the Passer in the NFL
Reese’s versatility was a major asset during his time in college football. The Ohio State defenders split time between EDGE rusher and off-ball linebacker. He’s unlikely to have the same kind of split time once he moves to the NFL.
Speaking with reporters at the NFL Combine podium, Reese confirmed that he spoke with many teams regarding his preferred position, and there was no way to hide what he wants to do once he’s drafted.
“The majority of them asked me where I wanna be, and then they show me SAM linebackers, and EDGEs”, Reese said, before confirming his preference to rush the passer. “Outside linebacker, or EDGE.”
Even though he wasn’t a full-time pass rusher, Reese proved that he could attack opposing quarterbacks during his time at Ohio State. He finished the 2025 season with 6.5 sacks and 69 tackles, including 2 passes defended.
Reese’s versatility was well used by Matt Patricia, the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator.
His stock was helped during the NFL Combine. He had an impressive 10-yard split during his 40-yard dash run, with 1.53 seconds being one of the best splits ever for an EDGE rusher. He also had a 4.47 run, impressing scouts and all but solidifying his status as a top-10 pick in April.
Reese is ranked at No. 2 on PFSN’s Big Board for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Impressively, the top 3 players belong to the Buckeyes: Safety Caleb Downs is considered the best player in the class, and linebacker Sonny Styles currently sits at No. 3. Carnell Tate completes the list of Buckeyes who are part of our top 10.
If this 10 yard split stands for Arvell Reese it is freak level stuff
One of the best 10 yard splits among edge rushers we’ve ever seen at the combine pic.twitter.com/1dIVqdS3xC— Bengal (@BengalYouTube) February 27, 2026
Another famous player who joined the NFL as a hybrid defender was Micah Parsons, but he later stopped playing as an off-ball linebacker and became a full-time EDGE, aiming to make a bigger impact in the game.
Reese could follow the same path and create problems for opposing quarterbacks.
