Arvell Reese, Ohio State LB

Strengths

Effective pass rusher with speed and hand fighting; more efficient (and productive) when done in a blitz/stunt capacity then a true 1v1 on the defensive line.
Great north-to-south athlete with good strength for the LB role.
Has good overall tackling technique.
Good vision and tracking of the ball carrier behind the offensive line.
I like his zone coverage instincts. Good at reading the QB and diagnosing plays to stop them before they can develop rather than being a step or two late and allowing for the receiver to make a play.
Looks good in gap run defense as he typically is aggressive in filling the hole.

Concerns/Weaknesses

Pursuit on the ball carrier is average if not in Reese’s immediate vicinity.
When playing on the defensive line, his ability to set the edge is not really there.
Consistently gets swallowed up by offensive linemen in the run game.
Inconsistencies in almost all phases of his game; will show a high end play for one down and then look lost on the field the next.

Key Statistics / Notes
Total tackles: 69
Tackles for loss: 10
Tackle success rate: 94.0%
Sacks: 6.5
INT + FF: 0
The vast majority of his production came in a 4-game stretch (Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Penn State) in the middle of the season, followed by very little production to speak of for the final six games.
That 4-game stretch contained 42% of his tackles, 70% of his TFLs, and 69% of his sacks for the season.
Will not turn 21 until the start of the NFL season.

Summary
One thing is clear to me watching Reese’s tape: this is not a full-time starter on the defensive line (which is currently the consensus projection). I think he is an average to above average player per down, but he has some high end flashes that are truly great for the position. It seems like he may have put it together for this 4-game stretch in the middle of the season, but then was inconsistent (production wise) on both sides of that stretch. The problem with Reese is that you rarely see all of his high end ability on a consistent down-by-down basis. When considering the risk/reward for a potential RD1 prospect, the inconsistencies should play a role.

Tape Grade: RD 1/2 (8.25 - Elite Tools with Concerns)
NFL Position-Type: LB - Any but 4-3 MLB
Pro style comp: Bigger Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

2025 Games watched: Texas, Michigan, Indiana.