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Todd McShay

Find the most comprehensive analysis on [Player Name], featuring Todd McShay’s evaluations. Official measurables, advanced analytics, and a scout’s eye provide the most in-depth breakdown of a prospect’s strengths and weaknesses, NFL draft projection, and potential at the next level.

Edge

Arvell Reese

Grade94 /100
Pos Rank1
OVR Rank3
School
OSU

Experience

Played38
Started14

POSITION STATS LAST SEASON

Sacks
6.5
TFL
10
Tackles
69
FF
0
PBU
2
Todd McShay

Position-Specific Grades

COMBINE RESULTS

Height
6' 4 1/8"
Weight
241lbs
Todd McShay
ARM
32 1/2"
Todd McShay
HAND
9 1/2"
40-Yard Dash
4.46sec
Todd McShay
10-Yard Split
1.58sec

The Takeaway

The Player

Reese worked out with the linebackers at the combine, but he was listed as an edge. In the NFL, he projects as a hybrid who will primarily line up at edge. Last season, 327 of his snaps came lined up along the defensive line, compared to 286 snaps as an off-ball linebacker and 34 snaps over the slot, according to PFF. At times, he walked up between the tackles as a stand-up linebacker, so not all of those defensive line snaps came as an edge.

Reese was a true junior last season, his first year as a full-time starter at Ohio State. He’s lean, and his arm length is a red flag for an edge, but his 40 time was outstanding. He has explosive power rushing the passer. He shoots his hands, lifts offensive tackles, and gets off blocks at the top of his rush. He overpowers running backs. He wins with speed off the edge and can get to the quarterback when he rushes from deep. 

Reese has a high ceiling and exhibited signs of development on tape. For example, he set up an outside rip move with an inside jab step in a play against Penn State last season. But he’s not a polished hand-fighter, and at this stage of his development, he doesn’t have a great feel for how to set up his moves, consistently sync his hands with his feet, and counter well. 

He matches up well with running backs and can run with tight ends in coverage. He gets good depth and breaks on the ball well when he drops to hook in zone looks. His instincts in zone are average, and his lack of length shows up in coverage at times. He’s a sideline-to-sideline run defender as an off-ball linebacker. He shows good pop stacking and shedding blocks between the tackles, beats blockers to the point of attack, and fills gaps. 

He can slip blocks in tight spaces and closes well chasing from the backside. Sometimes he buries himself in blocks and loses outside contact as an edge run defender. NFL offensive tackles will be tougher to anchor against unless he gets bigger and stronger.  

The Draft

Reese is one of the top 10, if not top five, players in this draft. Teams that view him as an off-ball linebacker may not value him as highly as teams that view him as an edge, but he grades out as a first-rounder at both positions.

The Projection

Micah Parsons is the most obvious comp for Reese, as he’s a former off-ball linebacker who has a similar skill set and transitioned to edge in the NFL. Devin Lloyd is a good comp if Reese remains at linebacker.