Ohio State’s defense is built to manufacture stars, but every so often, a new name skips the waiting line and crashes the national conversation. That’s the pulse right now with linebacker Arvell Reese, whose range and edge have jumped off early-season tape and onto scout notebooks. The frame is NFL-ready, the burst is obvious, and the instincts are catching up fast. Against top-flight competition, he looks more like a tone-setter, the kind who tilts snaps before the ball is even snapped.

Here’s analyst Todd McShay’s verdict on him. He says, “Arvell Reese, Ohio State. I put on the tape because I’ve heard from a couple scouts now. I put on the tape last night. He’s 6’4, 237… He’s the next great one, and it’s happening right now… You’re looking at for an off-the-ball linebacker with length… that length, it shaves off a quarter count… He’s fast. He plays violent. He plays aggressive. He’s instinctive.” That reads like a checklist of what modern coordinators covet at the second level: wingspan to disrupt passing lanes, burst to close space, and urgency to finish plays. Length provides a natural advantage; it compensates for delayed steps, deflects throws, and forces quarterbacks to throw around ghosts they can feel but can’t quite place.

McShay continued, “I didn’t realize that this Reese guy was about to break out to the level that he is. He’s a junior. How is this kid on the sideline for two years? I mean, you know what I mean?” Development isn’t linear at Ohio State, where blue-chips stack on blue-chips and snaps are earned, not promised. Reese looks like a classic year-3 accelerator. Special-teams reps and rotational work turn into full-speed processing, and the tape starts to show a player who trusts what he sees and detonates on it. When the mental trigger matches the physical tools, production tends to follow quickly. And that’s exactly what happened. Reese has led OSU in tackles and has been an all-around player.

“It’s three games… Leads the team in tackles. He’s got some tackles for loss. He’s got a pair of sacks. He’s got pass breakups. He does a little bit of everything. Arvell Reese is different. He is an absolute dude… maybe round one.” That box-score versatility tracks with the film: alignment flexibility, downhill juice, and enough coverage feel to live on passing downs. Add a marquee performance on a national stage and a growing chorus of league buzz, and the early first-round chatter definitely can turn into real conversation.

Reese’s path to that first round ticket is to stack consistent and clean tackles, keep winning third downs, and turn flashes into habit against Big Ten heavyweights. If the instincts keep sharpening and the ball production climbs with them, the “unexpected” label will age out quickly. For now, the arrow points up, and it’s pointing exactly where scouts look first.

Challengers gathering steam

After Week 3’s AP Top 25, Ohio State held No. 1 with the bulk of first-place votes, but 11 drifted to Penn State, Miami, LSU, and Oregon, hinting at a tightening race. Penn State has the look of a true stalker, pairing a smothering defense with an offense that’s clearing its reads and finishing drives. The eye test says physical, organized, and repeatable, which is why early first-place votes have started to drift in their direction. LSU sits in the same airspace, winning with field-position discipline and a defense that travels. If the Tigers find another gear on offense, their margin for error widens fast.

Ohio State’s combination of a dominant defense, depth across skill positions, and a balanced offensive attack keeps them atop the discussion. The Buckeyes’ physicality and discipline, which have defined their early-season dominance, set a high bar for challengers.

Miami’s September jump is built on speed and composure, with a ranked win and a demolition that felt like a proof-of-concept. The Canes are playing fast on both sides and turning leverage snaps into separation, the signature of a top-five team. Georgia moved up by surviving a road cauldron, which says as much about their ceiling as any blowout would. The Bulldogs didn’t earn style points, but they earned trust.

Oregon remains a force even after a poll dip, stacking double-digit wins and clean possessions on the road. The Ducks need a ranked pelt to unlock upward momentum, but the framework (efficient offense, sturdy situational defense) translates. Florida State, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma are building credible cases, too, each with a path to statement wins that can flip ballots. Until those statement victories arrive, Ohio State’s top ranking remains secure, but the chase is intensifying.