Arvell Reese Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch)

School: Ohio State

Class: Junior

Position:EDGE

HT:6’4

WT: 243 lbs

Background: Arvell Reese was a 4-star linebacker out of Cleveland, Ohio. Reese was a top 5 player in Ohio and top 25 linebacker in the 2023 class. Arvell was First Team All-Ohio and was the Division IV Defensive Player of the Year. He lead Glenville High School to their first ever state title in 2022. Reese participated in the Army All-American Bowl after his senior season. Arvell Reese committed to Ohio State over Michigan, Penn State, and others.

College: Reese was a special teams contributor in 2023 before becoming a key piece of the edge room in 2024. As a sophomore, Reese recorded 43 tackles and 3.5 TFLs. In both ’23 and ’24 he was also an OSU Scholar-Athlete while being named an Academic All-Big 10 selection as a sophomore. Reese had a true breakout season in 2025, recording 62 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks. He was named First Team All-Big 10 and earned All-American honors.

Strengths: Arvell Reese is one of the most explosive defenders in the entire draft class. He can be classified both as a linebacker and as an edge rusher. He has violent, heavy, and active hands to deconstruct blocks and work through linemen. His hands bring an impressive pop that allow him to get into the frame of his opponent and leak into the backfield. He has elite speed that is evident on tape. He explodes off the line with a quick first step to set the edge and put offensive tackles on their heels. Reese converts speed to power with a high efficiency. He has a large variety of pass rushing moves to win against any opponent. He has fluid movement skills that allow him to work around offensive tackles. Reese is a dynamic run defender as he shows off his speed in pursuit of the ball carrier in open space.

Weaknesses: Reese’s hip bend seems to come and go. On some reps he looks like he can be parallel with the grass, on others, he looks incredibly stiff. His upper body is weaker than his lower body. When offensive tackles get their grip on his pads, he can be uprooted and knocked off his rush. Reese too often commits to his original run fit and struggles to adjust on the fly.

Conclusion: Arvell Reese is a splash play waiting to happen. He sets up camp for a full 60 minutes in the backfield. He can win in so many unique ways that makes it near impossible for an offense to silence him. If he can fill out his frame a bit more without sacrificing that unmatched athleticism, he will become a superstar.

Best Team Fits: BUF, NYJ, TEN

Player Comparison: Jalon Walker

Player Grade: Round 1 (93.3)