Arvell Reese is widely projected as one of the first linebackers off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. Reese had a breakout college career at Ohio State. His time in college was marked with the Buckeyes by earning consensus All‑American honors as a junior. During pre‑draft interviews, Reese told reporters, “I think I’m an outside linebacker/edge,” indicating his perception at next level NFL defenses.
Age, hometown, and family background
Reese was born on August 28, 2004, in Cleveland, Ohio. His childhood was spent in the Glenville neighborhood where he attended Glenville High School. He is the son of Gwen Reese. The athlete has often opened up about the support he receives from his family. He moved from Cleveland to Columbus for college.
Education and college career
Reese enrolled at Ohio State in 2023 where he joined the team as a highly rated four‑star recruit. Over three seasons, he evolved from a reserve and special‑teams player into a central part of the Buckeyes’ defense. Reese has a record of 112 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and seven quarterback hurries across 38 games. He was part of Ohio State’s 2024 College Football Playoff national championship team and described his junior season as a chance to “help carry the defense.”
On‑field stats and draft profile
Reese posted 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks during his final year at Ohio State. He has been described by Scouts as “most physically impressive linebacker in the 2026 draft class”. Due to his versatility, he often draws comparisons to edge‑linebacker hybrids. At the combine he told reporters, “I haven’t even scratched the surface with really what I can do pass rushing,” underlining his belief in his ceiling at the NFL level.
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Personal life and relationship timeline
Reese has mostly kept his relationships private and there is no widely reported timeline of long‑term romantic relationships. Reese has a major in human development and family science.
