Who will win Defensive Rookie of the Year? Breaking down Ohio State’s top candidates

Ohio State didn’t just send talent to the NFL in 2026, it sent multiple defenders with real, immediate impact potential. That naturally raises the question, could a Buckeye take home Defensive Rookie of the Year for the fifth time in 11 years.

There isn’t just one name to consider, there are several. But when you break down role, production, and projection, one stands slightly above the rest in my opinion.

Caleb Downs : The safest projection, and the best bet

Let’s start with Caleb Downs, because his case is the easiest to understand and the hardest to argue against. Downs enters the NFL as one of the most polished defensive prospects in recent memory, a player whose game is built on instincts, consistency, and versatility rather than projection.

He has already produced at an elite level at both Alabama and Ohio State, and that matters when evaluating how quickly a player can transition to the league.

In 2025, Downs recorded 45 solo tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles, building on an 81-tackle campaign the year prior. Those numbers reflect more than just production, they reflect involvement.

Downs is always around the ball, consistently in position, and rarely makes mistakes. That reliability is what separates him in a Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation.

What makes his case even stronger is how clean and easy his projection is. He does not need a specific role or scheme to succeed. He can play deep, in the box, rotate post-snap, and function as the stabilizer of a defense from day one.

That translates directly to snap volume, and snap volume translates to opportunity. In an award that often comes down to consistent weekly production, Downs has the clearest path to checking every box.

Sonny Styles : The upside pick with positional versatility

If Downs represents certainty, Sonny Styles represents ceiling. His development arc is one of the most unique in this class, transitioning from safety to linebacker and emerging as one of the most versatile defenders in college football.

By 2025, he had become a centerpiece of Ohio State’s defense, finishing with 85 total tackles and impacting the game at every level.

Physically, Styles is rare. At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds with elite explosiveness, he brings traits that are difficult to replicate. But it is not just the athletic profile, it is how he is used.

Styles can play off-ball linebacker, match up in coverage, blitz effectively, and even operate as a situational edge presence. That versatility gives him multiple paths to production on Sundays.

And that is where his Defensive Rookie of the Year case becomes real. If he lands in a system that leans into that versatility and allows him to play aggressively, Styles could fill the stat sheet in multiple ways.

Tackles, pressures, sacks, and splash plays all become part of his profile. The only question is role clarity early in his career. If that is established quickly, his upside is as high as anyone in this group and the class as a whole.

Arvell Reese: The disruptive wildcard

Arvell Reese brings a different kind of case, one built on disruption and impact plays. Reese was one of the most physically imposing linebackers in college football and backed that up with production, totaling 70 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2025. His game is built around attacking downhill, creating negative plays, and pressuring the quarterback.

That profile matters in award conversations. Defensive Rookie of the Year voters often gravitate toward splash production, sacks, tackles for loss, and game-changing moments.

Reese has a natural advantage in that area because of how he is used. He is not limited to traditional linebacker responsibilities. He can rush the passer, line up on the edge, and create chaos in the backfield.

The path for Reese is simple. If he is deployed aggressively and given opportunities to rush, the numbers could follow quickly.

The question is refinement, particularly in coverage and consistency. But if the splash plays outweigh the learning curve, Reese has a very real chance to emerge as one of the most productive rookies in the league.

The “other” tier: Depth, value, and situational upside

Beyond the top three, Ohio State still offers intriguing names, though their paths to Defensive Rookie of the Year are less direct.

Kayden McDonald profiles as a long-term interior anchor, the type of player who can control the run game and stabilize a defensive line. His value will be immediate, but defensive tackles rarely generate the kind of statistics needed to win this award, especially purely run stuffing ones.

Davison Igbinosun brings a different kind of upside as a physical, press-man corner who thrives in tight coverage and plays with real edge. If he fits well in the Bills scheme and carries over the discipline and improvement he showed in his senior season at Ohio State, there’s a clear path for him to generate turnovers and outperform expectations.

The challenge is that corner production can be volatile and heavily dependent on opportunity and targets.

Caden Curry offers intriguing pass-rush upside, flashing with consistent backfield disruption and strong effort off the edge. But early on, his role will likely be rotational, which can limit volume and make it harder to stack the kind of numbers typically needed to enter the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation.

These players could all become high-level contributors in the NFL, but their Defensive Rookie of the Year cases rely more on circumstance than certainty.

Final prediction: Downs leads, but the race is real

If you are projecting one player to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, the answer is Caleb Downs. His combination of role, consistency, and immediate impact gives him the safest and most realistic path to the award. He will be on the field, involved in every phase of the defense, and productive from the start.

But this is not a runaway race. Sonny Styles has the highest ceiling if his role is maximized in my opinion, and Arvell Reese has the clearest path to splash production that can capture attention quickly.

Each brings a different case, and each has a legitimate argument.

The bigger takeaway is what this says about Ohio State. This is not just a program producing draft picks. It is producing players capable of competing for major NFL awards early in their careers.

In 2026, there is a real chance the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation runs straight through Columbus.