Few defenses in college football have dominated in 2025 the way Ohio State has under new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. And now, that dominance is translating into significant NFL Draft buzz.
What’s the Latest on the Buckeyes?
According to a new 2026 NFL mock draft from PFSN analyst Jacob Infante, the Buckeyes are projected to produce three first-round defenders, a testament to their overwhelming depth and elite performance this season.
Given the numbers, it’s hard to argue. Ohio State’s defense owns a 97.0 Defensive Team Impact Grade, the second-highest in the country behind only Indiana. They allow:
- 3.8 yards per play (fewest in the nation)
- 7.75 points per game (fewest in the nation)
- 1,456 passing yards allowed (fewest)
- Just 5 passing touchdowns allowed (fewest)
- 980 rushing yards allowed (4th fewest)
It’s a unit without apparent weaknesses, dominant against the pass, efficient against the run, and stocked with future NFL talent. Infante highlighted three of those draft-eligible stars: Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs, and Sonny Styles.
Arvell Reese: A Rare Defensive Unicorn Projected in the Top 5
Infante’s mock sends Reese fourth overall to the New York Giants (after a projected trade down with the Raiders), making him the first non-quarterback off the board.
It’s uncommon, borderline unheard of, to see an off-ball linebacker crack the top five in today’s NFL Draft landscape. But Reese is not a normal linebacker.
At 6’4”, 243 pounds, Reese is a hybrid defender who plays everywhere:
- Off-ball linebacker
- Edge rusher in a two-point stance
- Down lineman with his hand in the dirt
Some evaluators even see shades of Micah Parsons in the way he moves, hits, and disrupts plays from multiple alignments. Infante lauded Reese’s combination of elite size, length, speed, and physicality, calling him too unique and too impactful to overthink.
If Reese’s testing numbers match his on-field tape, he could realistically be the highest-drafted OSU defender in several years.
Caleb Downs: The Best Player in the Class
Infante ranks Caleb Downs as the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 class, yet has him landing 11th to the Minnesota Vikings due to positional value. Safety simply doesn’t carry the same draft leverage as quarterback, tackle, or edge. But make no mistake, Downs is a blue-chip talent.
He is the definition of a complete modern safety:
- Elite IQ and processing
- True single-high range and anticipation
- Physicality and explosiveness in run support
- Smooth movement skills in coverage
- Exceptional tackling technique and angles
Downs can rotate, pedal, and transition effortlessly, covering ground like a corner while hitting like a linebacker. His versatility across one-high and two-high shells makes him one of the safest, most impactful defensive prospects in years.
In other draft cycles, he might warrant a top-five selection. That’s not out of the question yet, either, with still four months until draft time, but for now, he’s just outside the top 10.
Sonny Styles: A Versatile, High-Ceiling Playmaker at Linebacker
While Arvell Reese gets most of the spotlight in Ohio State’s linebacker room, Sonny Styles is a projected first-rounder in his own right. Infante projects him 17th overall to the Detroit Lions.
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Styles is a rare build at the position, 6’4”, 234 pounds, and his background as a former safety gives him unique coverage instincts. He’s long, athletic, and explosive, with a wide tackling radius and the ability to glide into passing lanes.
What makes Styles so appealing:
- Fast processor with improved instincts
- Strong run support presence
- Ability to cover tight ends, slot receivers, and running backs
- Reliable block engagement fundamentals
Think of him as a more traditional three-down linebacker than Reese, less hybrid chess piece, more refined every-down force. And as pre-draft testing approaches, many believe Styles could climb even higher.
Another Loaded NFL Pipeline for Ohio State
Ohio State producing three first-round picks on one side of the ball would be impressive in any year, but doing it on a defense this dominant feels appropriate. Under Matt Patricia, the Buckeyes have reasserted themselves as one of the most physically imposing and technically sound units in the country.
With Reese, Downs, and Styles all generating first-round buzz, Ohio State seems poised to continue its tradition of churning out elite NFL talent, and the 2026 draft could be another banner night for the program.
