Arvell Reese ‘out of nowhere’ narrative thoroughly debunked by OSU coach

And with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Arvell Reese, linebacker, Ohio State.

Widely considered a top-3 prospect during the pre-draft process, Reese was a bit of a one-year wonder during his tenure in Columbus. The All-American linebacker started more games last September than his first two seasons with the Buckeyes combined, showcasing a Micah Parsons-level of athleticism that dazzled scouts around the league.

Now locked in as a member of the Giants, Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis took a bit of a victory lap, noting that Reese’s early seasons in the film rooms set him up for his eventual on-field success.

“I know for some it was like, ‘Arvell Reese came out of nowhere,'” Laurinaitis said via On3. “Arvell Reese sat in the linebacker room behind Cody Simon (a fourth-rounder) and Tommy Eichenberg (a fifth-rounder), and at the time, Steele Chambers knew a lot more ball than Arvell Reese did. Arvell had to learn along the way, and then his sophomore year he got a little playing time in base. So Arvell wasn’t just sitting there and doing nothing. There was a development to it, what Coach Day calls ‘Competitive excellence.’ You make a play when your number is called and are being trained and groomed to seize the moment.”

Will Reese go down as the next great OSU-to-NFL success story, inspiring a new generation of Buckeyes for years to come? Only time will tell, but with a spot locked in as a member of the Giants for at least the next four years, he has every chance to keep establishing himself as a national presence.

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