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With the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft expected to be used on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to make him the next man for the Las Vegas Raiders, many believe the true start of the festivities in Pittsburgh on Thursday night begins with the New York Jets at No. 2 in general.
A slew of mock games flying ahead of one of the most anticipated nights in pro football has the Jets leading the way, and many believe it will be Ohio State standout Arvell Reese.
Reese, who was an All-American in 2025 and a national champion with the Buckeyes in 2024, has what it takes for the team to land an immediate impact player on the draft come Week 1 in September.
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Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese runs during the school’s Pro Day at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
So, what exactly does Reese feel he will bring to the franchise, regardless of whether he is taken at No. 2 by the Jets or somewhere else?
“I think an NFL team is going to get someone who loves the game, who loves football. Then, they’re going to get someone who plays the game aggressively,” Reese told Fox News Digital the night before the NFL Draft, while discussing his partnership with Reese. “I play defense, so to play defense at a high level, you have to play aggressive all the time.
“More than that, you have to play with constant effort. So, I think the NFL team gets that from me – someone who plays with constant effort, someone who looks forward to playing aggressively. You have to look forward to playing aggressively.”
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Reese is among several former Buccaneers expected to go in the first round Thursday night, including safety Caleb Downs, linebacker Sonny Styles, wide receiver Carnell Tate and defensive end Kayden McDonald. As Reese put it, “If you want to be elite, choose to go to Ohio State.” The Cleveland, Ohio native was always in the process of choosing which program he wanted to play for in college, and the past three years have led to him being one of the fastest running backs in football this past season.
Reese made 10 tackles for a loss among his 69 combined, and had 6.5 sacks with two passes defensed in 14 games. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and at age 21, experts believe Reese has a lot of room for improvement, which is always what teams want from a proven player.
The 6-foot-4, 241-pound Reese said the pre-draft process has been “exciting” and “a blessing,” as he has visited with teams on over 30 visits, while meeting with players and coaches across the league. And while Reese is a visual example of those intangibles, he understands that being a student of the game is important.
Ohio State’s Arvell Reese participates in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 26, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
“The biggest piece of advice or wisdom I got from coaches or players is that, rookie year, you really want to put your head down and work,” he said. “You don’t want to talk too much – you want to put your head down and work.
“[Also]the biggest thing is finding a vet and a guy to pick on and learn from. Not trying to be exactly like him, but take things from the way he prepares and the way he practices. Try to add that to your game because there’s a reason vets are still around, guys who play nine, 10 years. It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s what they do every day. “
Reese has visited, learned some valuable wisdom, and now it’s time to sit and wait until he hears his name called Thursday night. For a team that needs an aggressive linebacker on the line of scrimmage each week, Reese is poised to make that expected impact by being a first-round pick.
PERFECT PARTNERSHIP
It’s okay for Reese to enter the NFL in partnership with Reese, and the famous peanut butter and chocolate confection teamed up with the first-round talent for a fun wardrobe surprise before his walk down the NFL Draft Red Carpet Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
“In the suit, we’re partners,” Reese said during the interview. “I’m happy to be part of Reese’s team in this draft.”
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Arvell Reese runs during the Big Ten Championship football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Dec. 6, 2025. (James Black/Icon Sportswire)
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No details on what the suit will look like have been given to Reese, but he’s thrilled to be teaming up with his favorite candy growing up. It’s not just a natural relationship because of the name — she always enjoys Reese’s.
“I grew up eating Reese’s. Right now I’m still eating Reese’s,” he said with a smile. “My mom used to give me Reese’s lips – I always wanted to get Reese’s lips. So, it was natural and I was happy when I heard about it.”
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