Arvell Reese has established himself as an elite defensive prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft after a phenomenal junior season at Ohio State. A key figure in the Buckeyes’ 2024 National Championship defense, Reese transitioned from a special teams contributor to a versatile hybrid star, closing his collegiate career as one of the program’s most impactful defenders.
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 241 pounds, Reese’s combination of a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and heavy-handed physicality has NFL scouts drawing comparisons to a young Micah Parsons. After declaring for the draft in January 2026, he is widely viewed as a top-five lock and a centerpiece of a defensive-heavy 2026 class.
Arvell Reese’s NIL Portfolio and Valuation
Reese is among the featured athletes in Panini’s NIL “Contenders” collection. His signed “Private Signing Ice” cards and limited-run rookie inserts are actively traded on eBay, with 2025 Contenders cards recently fetching premium prices among Buckeye collectors. While his specific net worth is private, his valuation remained high throughout his final season through partnerships with THE Foundation and Cohesion Foundation, Ohio State’s premier NIL collectives.
Arvell Reese’s Journey to Ohio State
Reese was Ryan Day’s first-ever commitment from the storied Glenville High School program in Cleveland. A four-star prospect in the 2023 class, Reese chose Ohio State over heavy interest from Alabama, Michigan, and USC. His commitment marked a significant return to the “Glenville-to-OSU” pipeline that has produced numerous NFL stars for the Buckeyes, including 2006 Heisman winner Troy Smith.
Reese’s Magnificent Ohio State Career
Reese appeared in six games as a freshman in 2023, primarily on special teams while recovering from a concussion. He took a major step forward in 2024, logging 512 total snaps and recording 43 tackles. However, his junior season in 2025 served as his national breakout. Reese finished the year as the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, totaling 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was highly complimentary of Reese’s growth during an interview in November 2025:
“Arvell never gets distracted by noise. He just focuses on what matters… Early in his career, he could have very easily been discouraged because he didn’t play as much early on. We moved him to the defensive line for a couple of months, and all those things helped him.”
Reese delivered a career-best 12 tackles against Penn State on November 1, 2025. He ended the season with a 77.2 score in the PFSN College Football EDGE Impact Metric, reflecting his ability to disrupt games as both an off-ball linebacker and a dedicated pass rusher.
Reese’s NFL Draft Outlook
Heading into Thursday’s NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Reese is widely viewed as a top-five selection. Many analysts, including those at FOX Sports and CBS, have highlighted him as the premier hybrid defender in the class. Recent mock drafts consistently project Reese to the New York Jets at No. 2 overall, where he is expected to serve as a cornerstone in Aaron Glenn’s defensive scheme.
