Is Arvell Reese the best player in the 2026 NFL draft class?
Yahoo Sports NFL analyst Nate Tice is joined by Dane Brugler to discuss how the Ohio State defender is one of the most talented players to follow in next year’s class. Check out the full conversation on “Football 301” - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
Um, you have your #1 player, my #2 player, but theyll probably end up being my #1 player.
Honest, Arvel Reese, uh, who isdo you have him as an edge or an off-ball?
I, I, I, I, I guess Im going to call him an edge, but I kind of have, I just kept saying LB as I could cheat, that could be an outside linebacker.
You know, as a cheat, uh, but yeah, hes your number-one player.
We'll just start with him before we get into the other guys, 'cause he's a, A maniac, freaking awesome, and like one of the coolest players youll ever watch.
And that's if you make me put a like, a position on him, Iit probably would be edge, um, but yeah, he's so.
Uh, like he looks, looks like a linebacker, a big linebacker.
He's 6'4", 240, but I mean, hit the violence that he plays with.
Uh, like, I got some messages after the big 10 championship game saying, Uh, oh, where was Reese this game?
I didn't hear his name once this game.
And its like he was watching the tape back.
He was doing exactly what he was asked to do.
And he's setting the edge, and he's playing with violence, and he was like, He's not asked to just pin his ears back and attack the quarterback.
But he's spying, and Yeah, that, that in the 4th quarter, when he was able to cut off Mendoza.
The closing burst that he showed was just phenomenal.
So this guy, uh, was really a one-year starter, he saw playing time last year, But he's really a one-year starter this year.
Hes been that hybrid chess piece in Matt Patricias defense, that is Just such an important part of what they want to be.
Because he can drop into space.
He can rush the quarterback.
I mean, he is an amplified version of Jalen Walker from last year.
Who, you know, was my sixth overall player, or something like that.
So, yeah, Reese is really awesome.
He means a lot to me.
He'll be a top pick; somewhere, he'll be drafted somewhere in the top 10.
Um, hes one of the few guys that I think is a real dude in this draft.
