Ht/Wt:6' 4"/243 lbs
Position: LB/EDGE
School: Ohio State
Class: Junior

Arvell Reese's Player Profile

Reese entered the draft conversation as a high-upside, versatile defender who can line up in multiple spots and affect the game in several ways. At Ohio State, he showed the ability to run sideline to sideline, set a strong edge, tackle with force, and flash real blitz and pass-rush ability. Teams are still sorting out whether he is best projected as an off-ball linebacker, an outside linebacker, or a true edge in the NFL, but his athletic profile has pushed him toward the top of draft boards. The appeal is obvious: he looks like a defender who can be moved around to create matchup problems and grow into a multi-level playmaker.

Strengths: His two biggest strengths are his explosive athleticism and his tackling ability, since he closes quickly, covers ground with ease, and finishes with physical, reliable technique.

Weaknesses: His biggest weaknesses are that his pass-rush toolbox is still developing and his long-term NFL position is not fully settled, which leaves some projection risk compared with more established edge or linebacker prospects.

Mel Kiper - ESPN - January 21st: "This is a complete football player. Reese jumps off the Ohio State tape, playing the game like a veteran. I see natural instincts at the linebacker position that allow him to make plays most guys just can't make, and he has the burst to get home when turned loose as a pass rusher."

Walt - Walter Football- January 20th: "Arvell Reese is a special player because of his incredible instincts and athleticism."

Gordon McGinness - PFF - January 19th: "The team that drafts Reese needs to have a solid plan for how to use him, which is why I don't have him in the same tier as the top defenders in this class. He is versatile, though, having earned an 86.5 PFF run-defense grade and a 72.1 PFF pass-rush grade this past season."

NFL Draft Buzz- January: "Reese walks into the league with the kind of physical tools that keep defensive coordinators up at night scheming ways to maximize his impact. His combination of size, speed, and strength creates immediate value as a sub-package weapon who can rush the passer from multiple alignments while developing the nuances required to be an every-down linebacker."


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