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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 on Thursday night begins with the New York Jets at No. 2 overall.
The slew of mock drafts circulating ahead of one of the most anticipated nights in pro football has the Jets at the forefront, and many believe it will be Ohio State standout Arvell Reese.
Reese, an All-American in 2025 and a national champion with the Buckeyes in 2024, has everything a team needs to land an immediate impact player at the line of scrimmage 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 think he’ll bring to a franchise, whether the Jets take him at No. 2 or elsewhere?
“I think an NFL team is going to get someone who loves the game, who loves football. Then, they’re going to get someone who plays violently,” Reese told Pak Gazette 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 violently at all times.
“On top of that, you have to play with relentless effort. So I think an NFL team is taking that out of me: someone who plays with relentless effort, someone who expects to play violently. You have to expect to play violently.”
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Reese is among many former Buckeyes hoping to move into the first round on Thursday night, including safety Caleb Downs, linebacker Sonny Styles, receiver Carnell Tate and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald. As Reese said, “If you want to be elite, choose to go to Ohio State.” The Cleveland, Ohio, native stayed in-state when choosing which program he wanted to play for in college, and the last three years have led to this moment for one of the most dominant running backs in football last season.
Reese tallied 10 tackles for loss among his 69 combined, and secured 6.5 sacks with two passes defensed in 14 games. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and at 21 years old, experts believe Reese has a lot more growing to do, 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 visited teams during his Top 30 visits and met players and coaches from around the league. And while Reese is a physical specimen who has those intangibles, he understands that being a student of the game is crucial.
Ohio State’s Arvell Reese participates in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 26, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
“The biggest advice or wisdom I’ve gotten from coaches or players is that, in your rookie year, you really want to put your head down and work,” he said. “You don’t want to talk too much; you just want to put your head down and work.
“[Also]The most important thing is to find a vet and a person from whom you can choose and learn things. I’m not trying to be exactly like him, but I take things from the way he prepares and how he approaches practices. Try to add that to your game because there’s a reason veterans are still around, guys who play nine or ten years. It doesn’t happen out of nowhere. “These are things they do every day.”
Reese made his visits, learned some key knowledge 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 at the line of scrimmage every week, Reese is ready to make the immediate impact expected as a first-round pick.
THE PERFECT COLLABORATION
It’s only fitting that Reese arrives in the NFL with a Reese’s partnership, and the famous peanut butter and chocolate candy has collaborated with the first-round talent for a fun locker room surprise ahead of his walk on the NFL Draft red carpet Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
“We collaborated on the suit,” Reese revealed during the interview. “I’m excited to be a part of Reese’s draft team.”
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese runs during the Big Ten Championship football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on December 6, 2025. (James Black/Sportswire Icon)
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Reese didn’t give details on exactly what the costume will look like, but he’s just excited to be associated with his favorite candy he had growing up. It’s not just a natural association because of the name: he always likes Reese’s.
“I grew up eating Reese’s. I still eat Reese’s today,” he said, smiling. “My mom always gave me Reese’s Cups; I always looked forward to them. So it was natural and I was excited when I found out.”
