The Ohio State football team has several players who are candidates to be first-round picks in the Spring. With this team hoping to win back-to-back national championships, they should have one of the most talented teams in the country. Caleb Downs was once seen as the best draft-eligible player the Buckeyes had.
That was the prevailing thought coming into the season, as Downs was seen as a no-doubt top-ten pick. That is still true, and he might even go in the top five. What has changed is that Downs is no longer the guy that draft gurus are drooling over on the Ohio State Buckeyes' roster.
Arvell Reese has turned into that player. The Athletic had him as the projected number-one overall pick in a recent mock draft. Now, other outlets are following suit, realizing just how good Reese is in his only years as a starting linebacker for this defense.
Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese seen as top prospect by draft analyst
According to ESPN Draft Analyst Jordan Reid, Reese is the best player in the draft. He has him rated as the top-ranked player in the 2026 NFL Draft. Funnily enough, he also has Downs rated as the second-best player available. He does not think they will be drafted back-to-back, though.
Reese is seen as an edge rusher at the next level, and scouts have been drooling over his ability to get after the passer because of his athleticism. He's someone who can speed around tackles to sack the quarterback and still drop into coverage when needed.
Of course, it depends on which NFL team ends up getting the top pick. If the Titans are awarded the pick, Reese could go in this spot because they already drafted Cam Ward with the top pick last season. If it's a team like the Jets, a quarterback might be the top pick.
Reid has five Buckeyes in the top 31 prospects available. He has Tate as the ninth-best prospect, Sonny Styles as the 18th-best prospect, and Kayden McDonald ranked at 31. That's a lot of talent on Ohio State's roster, and most of it is located on defense.