Ryan Day’s words around Ohio State’s Arvell Reese tells the secret on how he became a star out of nowhere
The Ohio State Buckeyes already entered the 2025 season with a star-studded roster that was capable of reaching the College Football Playoff with little development. But the breakout of Arvell Reese on defense has helped redefine what this team’s ceiling is. Now, the Buckeyes have three of the top 10 players in the 2026 NFL […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes already entered the 2025 season with a star-studded roster that was capable of reaching the College Football Playoff with little development. But the breakout of Arvell Reese on defense has helped redefine what this team’s ceiling is. Now, the Buckeyes have three of the top 10 players in the 2026 NFL Draft, and that doesn’t include star receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin.
Reese’s breakthrough was an unlikely one. He was a potential transfer threat after being relegated to a rotational role in 2024, lacking a true position in Jim Knowles’ defense. That all changed with Matt Patricia in charge, though.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day broke down what has made Reese skyrocket to the top overall spot on 2026 NFL Draft Big Boards recently. Reese is clearly special as an athlete, and he’s a rare person and worker as well.
Ryan Day describes what makes Arvell Reese a rising draft prospect
A redshirt sophomore who logged 43 tackles and half a sack last year, Reese has found a home as a part-time EDGE rusher and off-ball linebacker. He’s a heat-seeking missile much like 2025 first-round pick Jalon Walker, except more explosive and longer. It’s easy to see Reese being a top-five pick in April.
His production has taken a huge leap, notching 55 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. PFF has tracked 22 quarterback pressures with a minuscule 6% missed tackle rate. He’s not great in coverage yet, but he’s as scary as it gets when moving downhill.
Here’s how Day described Reese’s mindset and game.
“He was a very productive player in high school. Coaches did a great job of bringing him along, providing a mindset of what it means to be a Buckeye. That’s critical – what it means to play at Ohio State. Arvell has that mindset and had it when he walked in the door. Arvell never gets distracted by noise; he just focuses on what matters, and that’s a unique trait. Maybe there’s talk about him with awards and with the draft, but Arvell just focuses on what matters.”
Day continued, “He could’ve very easily been discouraged because he didn’t play as much early on. We moved him to D-line for a couple of months, all of those things helped. And then he sat and watched Cody, he watched Sonny, and now, with his athletic ability and understanding of what goes on in that room…has allowed him to play at a high level.”
We’re huge fans of Reese’s game here, and believe he and Caleb Downs could be the most exciting two-man punch in recent memory across college football. It’ll be a blast watching how these two stars anchor Ohio State’s defense over the next two months of action as the Buckeyes make a push for another National Championship.
