Tarohn FinleyContributing writerFri, April 24, 2026 at 12:36 AM UTC·3 min readIt did not take long for the first player from Ohio State’s defense, which ranked first in fewest yards and points allowed last season, to be selected. Edge rusher Arvell Reese was selected with the No. 5 overall pick by the New York Giants, and linebacker Sonny Styles went to the Washington Commanders two picks later.
Reese is one of the biggest risers in the NFL Draft. After showing flashes as a sophomore, Reese broke out his junior year under Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Reese put himself on the draft radar after nine tackles and a sack in the Buckeyes’ 14-7 win against Texas in Week 1. Reese finished the season with 69 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups, and was a consensus All-American, the Big Ten's Linebacker of the Year and a finalist for the Butkus Award.
Reese said at the NFL scouting combine that he considers himself an edge and outside linebacker, more of an off-the-ball linebacker. No matter what position he plays with the Giants, his speed and power jump off the page.
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His Ohio State teammate Styles did not wait long to hear his name called either. Styles led Ohio State with 83 tackles, then had an even stronger combine. He had a 43.5-inch vertical and a broad jump of 11 feet, 2 inches. His vertical reportedly was only 1.5 inches off the all-time combine record, and he was reportedly the only person over 240 pounds to clear 43 feet since 2003. His broad jump reportedly ranks fourth among linebackers at the combine since 1999.
Styles' 4.46 time in the 40-yard dash was tied for the day's best with Reese. To put that in perspective, Styles posted the same time as Falcons running back Bijan Robinson despite being bigger. Styles' estimated athletic score of 92 on Thursday ranked first among all linebackers.
Under head coach Dan Quinn in Washington, Styles projects to be a Bobby Wagner type in the middle of the defense. Quinn has coached Wagner both in Seattle and Washington.
A third Buckeye defender, Caleb Downs, should come off the board soon too. He was one of the best defensive prospects heading into the season. While the safety continued to produce, he was overshadowed on the Buckeyes defense after Reese’s breakout season and Styles' record-setting performance at the NFL combine. Positional value has also worked against Downs being the first defender off the board.
Despite not receiving as much hype this season, Downs could be one of the most pro-ready players in the NFL Draft. Downs has played under former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, Patricia and former Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
Downs led Alabama in tackles as a freshman before transferring to Ohio State for his last two seasons after Saban’s retirement. Saban said on College Gameday that Downs is one of the most complete people he’s ever had the opportunity to coach and that he’s in the top tier of all players of all time.