Ohio State’s defense has been ruthless this season. It has come down on its rivals like a sledgehammer, leading the FBS in fewest points allowed at just 5.5 per game. OSU has yielded only 3.99 yards per play under the new coordinator, Matt Patricia’s reign. The defense has only surrendered 22 points overall, with only 2 touchdowns. The defense is overrun by top-tier NFL potential talent in the form of Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, and Caden McDonald. But there’s someone who has been the centre of attention for draft analysts and has been predicted to be the first one to exit in April.

And that is junior linebacker Arvell Reese, who has impressed the entire nation with his range, rush ability, and violence. He has been the tone-setter for the unit that looks nasty this season. Reese’s climb up the depth charts has been a textbook case of development in Columbus. During his freshman year, he spent his time exclusively on special teams, recording 58 snaps. As a sophomore, the staff began leaning on him bit by bit, and he joined in as a rotational linebacker with 322 defensive snaps and 43 tackles. In 2025, he arrived as a full-time linebacker and has been the talk of the town ever since. His performance has led to the chatter around him growing, with analysts pegging him as a first-rounder. That’s exactly what a top draft analyst, Dane Brugler, reiterated this week.

A fan asked Brugler on X, “@dpbrugler is Avrell Reese a top 15 prospect?” Brugler replied: “Based on the first month of the season, yes. Arvell Reese is the type of talent a lot of NFL teams covet for their scheme. Long, athletic, versatile. Don’t be surprised if he is the first OSU player drafted in April!” The film and the statistics back him up. Reese dominated against Texas with nine tackles, a sack, and a bunch of pressures. His final tally right now in 4 games is 25 combined tackles with 2 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.

Moreover, the noise is not only from the outside. Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis has also been singing Reese’s praises. “Arvell is so talented. Like, so talented… his ability to move around and position flex makes him all the more valuable… he’s a special talent,” he said. Apart from the talent that Reese possesses, he has also slowly been emerging as the leader in the linebaker room. FOX’s Gus Johnson has already gone with Reese as his first “GOT IT” pick, saying, “This young man from Cleveland, Ohio, is a goon… He will knock you out and run right through you.” He also predicted the Butkus for him.

Put the facts and film together, and the writing on the wall cannot be more obvious. Reese is an elite defensive talent who amplifies everyone around him by maximising his trait. His first month’s resume is consistent. Reese can very well, like Bruglar said, be the first player that get drafted from OSU in April. Because right now, no defender suiting up in scarlet and gray impacts defense in more ways than he does, making him the most impactful player in a smothering Ohio State defense.

But it’s not just Arvell Reese who is in the OSU limelight.

Caleb Downs, born for the moment

Caleb Downs entered Columbus with sky-high expectations and then achieved those as he helped OSU get a national title. He was third on the team during this title run with 82 tackles and led the secondary with a veteran persona. He has been a magnet for big plays, with 11 tackles against Michigan and pass breakups against Texas in the Playoff. Anytime you’d want someone to get in a clutch performance, Downs was there. And OSU surrendering just 22 points over the first four games has its roots in the safety.

What makes this rise even more intriguing is that Downs never wanted to play football. As a six-year-old, he didn’t want to follow his brother into the gridiron. Downs initially resisted being a part of the family legacy, even when his father, Gary, saw the raw prowess in him. “I remember saying, ‘He’s a pro football player.’ That’s what he looked like,” Gary told The New York Times. “He just understood what everybody was supposed to be doing all the time.” But once Caleb did lean in, everything sorted itself out. And everything happened just like his father expected. 

Downs said, “I was watching films when I was 8 or 9 years old. It allowed me to play fast through the years. To be able to anticipate plays that are coming.” The raw prowess was polished into a much technically refined ability, making Downs a more mature player ever since he was 8 years old, and now, he is among the select few who are set to go early in the NFL draft.