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With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft expected to be used on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to make him the Las Vegas Raiders’ next franchise man, many believe the real start to the festivities in Pittsburgh Thursday night will begin with the New York Jets at No. 2 overall.
The plethora of mock drafts flying around ahead of one of the most anticipated nights in professional football has the Jets going, and many believe it will be Ohio State standout Arvell Reese.
Reese, an All-American in 2025 and national champion with the Buckeyes in 2024, has everything a team needs to get an immediate impact player on the line in Week 1 in September.
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Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese runs during the school’s Pro Day at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
So what exactly does Reese feel he will bring to a franchise, whether he’s drafted No. 2 by the Jets or elsewhere?
“I think an NFL team is going to get somebody who loves the game, who loves football. Then they’re going to get somebody who plays the game violently,” Reese told Pakinomist Digital on the eve of the NFL Draft, while also discussing his partnership with Reese’s. “I play defense, so to play defense at a high level, you have to play it fierce all the time.
“On top of that, you have to play with relentless effort. So I think an NFL team will get that out of me — someone who plays with relentless effort, someone who looks forward to playing violently. You have to look forward to playing it violently.”
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Reese is among many former Buckeyes expected to go in the first round Thursday night, including safety Caleb Downs, linebacker Sonny Styles, wide receiver Carnell Tate and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald. As Reese put it, “If you want to be elite, choose to go to Ohio State.” The Cleveland, Ohio native stayed in-state as he chose which program he wanted to play for in college, and the past three years have led to this moment for one of the most dominant rushers in football this past season.
Reese tallied 10 tackles for loss among his 69 total, and he secured 6.5 sacks with two passes defensed across 14 games. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and at 21 years old, experts believe there’s a lot more for Reese to grow into, which is always what teams want from a player who’s already proven himself.
The 6-foot-4, 241-pound Reese said the pre-draft process has been “exciting” and a “blessing” as he made top 30 visits with teams while meeting players and coaches across the league. And while Reese is a physical specimen who has these intangibles, he understands the importance of being a student of the game.
Ohio State’s Arvell Reese attends the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 26, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
“The biggest piece of advice or wisdom I’ve gotten from coaches or players is that the rookie year is to really put your head down and work,” he said. “You don’t want to talk too much – you want to put your head down and work.
“[Also]the biggest thing is finding a vet and a guy you can choose from and learn from. Not trying to be exactly like him, but taking things from the way he prepares and how he approaches practice. Try to add that to your game because there’s a reason vets are still around, guys who play nine, 10 years. It doesn’t just happen out of nowhere. These are things they do daily.”
Reese made his visits, he’s learned some important wisdom, and now it’s time to sit back and wait until he hears his name called Thursday night. For a team that needs a violent defender on the field every week, Reese is poised to make the immediate impact expected of being a first-round pick.
THE PERFECT COLLABORATION
It’s only right that Reese enters the NFL with a Reese’s partnership, and the famous peanut butter and chocolate candy has partnered with the first-round talent for a fun wardrobe surprise ahead of his walk down the NFL Draft Red Carpet Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
“For the suit, we collaborated,” Reese revealed during the interview. “I am excited to be a part of Reese’s team for the draft.”
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese runs during the Big Ten Championship football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Dec. 6, 2025. (James Black/Icon Sportswire)
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No details on what exactly the suit will look like were provided by Reese, but he’s simply thrilled to partner with his favorite candy he had growing up. It’s not just a natural partnership because of the name—he always enjoys Reese’s.
“I grew up eating Reese’s. I still eat Reese’s,” he said, smiling. “My mom used to always give me Reese’s Cups—I always looked forward to getting Reese’s Cups. So it was natural, and I was excited when I heard about it.”
