Arvell Reese
New York GiantsOur College Grade
How good he was in college at what his position is supposed to do, out of 100. Scored against everyone else at his position, adjusted for the level he played at. This is not his NFL grade.
College Production
Ohio State · Big Ten
| Season | Tkl | TFL | Sacks | Hur | PD | Pos Rk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 43 | 4 | 0.5 | 2 | 0 | 271 |
| 2025 | 69 | 10 | 6.5 | 5 | 2 | 60 |
The seasons in our college data. It does not always reach back to a player's first year.
Scouting Report
Ohio State · 2026 draft class
Arvell Reese is the most physically imposing linebacker in the 2026 NFL Draft class-a violent, explosive hybrid defender with the size and versatility to line up as both a stand-up edge or off-ball linebacker. At 6-4, 243 pounds with elite proportional length and lower-body power, Reese blurs the line between positions in ways that create matchup nightmares for offensive coordinators. His journey from Glenville High School in Cleveland, where he anchored a defense that didn't surrender a single point across six league games during a state championship run, to becoming the potential No. 1 overall pick is a testament to his rapid development. After contributing as a special teamer in 2023 and serving as a rotational player behind Sonny Styles and Cody Simon in 2024, Reese exploded onto the scene in 2025 with 62 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks while anchoring the nations stingiest defense (7.8 points per game allowed). What makes Reese special is his 99th-percentile power profile combined with legitimate coverage ability-he's logged significan't snaps at edge rusher, inside linebacker, and slot defender without looking uncomfortable. His blend of size, athleticism, and violent playing style makes him the kind of defensive cornerstone that teams build around for a decade.
Strengths
- Elite physical tools at 6-4
- 243 pounds with proportional length that allows him to overwhelm blockers like a true edge rusher
- Hyper-explosive lower body generates overwhelming force at the point of attack with effortless stack-and-shed ability
- 99th-percentile power profile with rare combination of explosiveness
- lean mass
- and length for pass-rush upside
- Versatile enough to play multiple roles-logged snaps at edge
- inside linebacker
- and slot defender
- Outstanding strength at the point of attack
Concerns
- Coverage fluidity and spatial discipline still developing
- can get caught flat-footed against quick-breaking routes
- Over-aggressiveness can lead to poor angles
- occasionally clicks-and-closes on scrambling QBs unnecessarily
- Limited sample size as a full-time starter-2025 breakout season is only extended starting experience
- Will need to prove anchor strength holds up against NFL-caliber offensive linemen
- Only 7 career sacks despite physical tools suggesting more pass-rush production should be attainable
- Positional projection debate remains-is he an off-ball linebacker or an edge rusher at the next level?
Honors
Consensus No. 1 overall prospect on multiple big boards; 4-star recruit from Glenville HS (Cleveland); Ohio Division IV Defensive Player of the Year (HS); State Champion (HS); Anchored nations #1 scoring defense (7.8 PPG) in 2025