Here is our scouting report on Ohio State linebacker, Arvell Reese
We begin our 2026 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at linebacker Arvell Reese from Ohio State.
Arvell Reese
LB
Ohio State
Junior
4-star recruit
6’4”
243 lbs
History
On the recruiting trail, Arvell Reese was viewed as a high-upside, modern linebacker. He was the number five player in Ohio and the 19th linebacker nationally rating him among the top linebackers in the 2023 cycle. He committed to Ohio State in June 2023.
As a true freshman in 2023, he played in six games, with all 58 snaps coming on special teams. He suffered a concussion on kickoff coverage in Week 2 win that sidelined him for about a month, slowing early development in a crowded linebacker room.
In year two, Reese became a legitimate part of the weekly defensive plan. He played all 16 games, logging 309 defensive snaps and producing 43 tackles with three tackles for loss, plus a half sack. He hit a personal best of seven tackles against both Northwestern and Michigan and added Academic All-Big Ten Athlete honors.
This season is where the résumé turns into an eye popping display. He posted 69 tackles, ten tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and two passes defended in 14 games. He earned the Big Ten’s Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten honors, and was consensus All-America before declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.
2025 Statistics
651 Defensive Snaps
27 Total Pressures
69 Total Tackles
10 TFL
6.5 Sacks
2 PBU
0 Penalties
Snap by Postion
Defensive line: 50%
Box: 45%
Slot: 5%
NFL Combine/Pro Day
TBC
Awards
Scholar-Athlete (2023)
Academic All–Big Ten (2024)
Big Ten Linebacker of the Year (2025)
First-team All-Big Ten (2025)
All-American (2025)
Scorecard
Overall– 90
Speed- 90
Acceleration- 88
Agility- 84
Strength- 85
Tackling- 88
Run Defense- 94
Pass Rush- 81
Coverage- 58
Discipline- 80
THE GOOD
- NFL ready build and length with long arms and room to add strength without losing movement.
- Real closing speed and explosive burst that shows up when he’s tracking runs or hunting quarterbacks.
- Power at the point of attack. He can shock and stack second-level blockers and hold his ground instead of getting washed out of the play.
- Quick diagnosis and instincts.
- Read and react ability is sharp and fast.
- Excellent tackling technique with only four missed tackles in 2025.
- He can threaten protections as a blitzer, winning with speed-to-power and speed around the corner or through gaps.
- True versatility as a movable chess piece. Can play off-ball, threaten the A-gaps, or rush off the edge without looking out of place.
- High-end 2025 impact play.
- Can play special teams.
THE BAD
- Coverage is the biggest issue.
- He can be late getting depth off play-action and can lose the route at times.
- His short-area quickness is a limiting factor when matched on quicker slot players or tight ends.
- Over-aggression can create cutback lanes and contain issues.
- He will attack inside gaps so hard he will open lanes if the offense counters his momentum.
- Rush technique needs a Plan B.
- He can get upright with high pads when rushing outside, leaning on power instead of chaining moves, something that will get harder against NFL tackles.
- A one-year wonder and needs more experience.
THE FIT
Reese fits best as a weak-side NFL linebacker in a defense that lets him play fast against the run, shoot gaps, and blitz on passing downs. You want him attacking and cleaning up plays, not living in constant one-on-one coverage against slot guys. Put him in a scheme that keeps reads simple and turns him loose, and his speed and disruption show up every week.
SUMMARY
Reese is a fast, attack-first linebacker who makes his money by getting downhill, chasing plays sideline to sideline, and showing real blitz value. His best tape comes when he can see it and go, shooting gaps, finishing in the backfield, and cleaning up runs with speed. While his coverage is more solid in zones than as a full-time man defender it’s not his biggest strength. If an NFL team keeps his reads simple and uses him as a weak-side linebacker with some pressure duties, he projects as a high-energy starter who adds tackles, tackles-for-loss, and timely disruption with a good level of consistency.
COMPARISON
Jihaad Campbell
BTB GRADE
3rd
CONSENSUS RANKING
3rd
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)
Category: General Sports
