Cowboys 2026 draft: LB Arvell Reese scouting report

We begin our 2026 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at linebacker Arvell Reese from Ohio State.

Arvell Reese

LB
Ohio State
Junior
4-star recruit
6’4”
243 lbs

History

On the recruiting trail, Arvell Reese was viewed as a high-upside, modern linebacker. He was the number five player in Ohio and the 19th linebacker nationally rating him among the top linebackers in the 2023 cycle. He committed to Ohio State in June 2023.

As a true freshman in 2023, he played in six games, with all 58 snaps coming on special teams. He suffered a concussion on kickoff coverage in Week 2 win that sidelined him for about a month, slowing early development in a crowded linebacker room.

In year two, Reese became a legitimate part of the weekly defensive plan. He played all 16 games, logging 309 defensive snaps and producing 43 tackles with three tackles for loss, plus a half sack. He hit a personal best of seven tackles against both Northwestern and Michigan and added Academic All-Big Ten Athlete honors.

This season is where the résumé turns into an eye popping display. He posted 69 tackles, ten tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and two passes defended in 14 games. He earned the Big Ten’s Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten honors, and was consensus All-America before declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.

2025 Statistics

651 Defensive Snaps
27 Total Pressures
69 Total Tackles
10 TFL
6.5 Sacks
2 PBU
0 Penalties

Snap by Postion

Defensive line: 50%
Box: 45%
Slot: 5%

NFL Combine/Pro Day

TBC

Awards

Scholar-Athlete (2023)
Academic All–Big Ten (2024)
Big Ten Linebacker of the Year (2025)
First-team All-Big Ten (2025)
All-American (2025)

Scorecard

Overall**–** 90
Speed- 90
Acceleration- 88
Agility- 84
Strength- 85
Tackling- 88
Run Defense- 94
Pass Rush- 81
Coverage- 58
Discipline- 80

THE GOOD

NFL ready build and length with long arms and room to add strength without losing movement.
Real closing speed and explosive burst that shows up when he’s tracking runs or hunting quarterbacks.
Power at the point of attack. He can shock and stack second-level blockers and hold his ground instead of getting washed out of the play.
Quick diagnosis and instincts.
Read and react ability is sharp and fast.
Excellent tackling technique with only four missed tackles in 2025.
He can threaten protections as a blitzer, winning with speed-to-power and speed around the corner or through gaps.
True versatility as a movable chess piece. Can play off-ball, threaten the A-gaps, or rush off the edge without looking out of place.
High-end 2025 impact play.
Can play special teams.