Arvell Reese is Chuck Bednarik National Player of the Week
11/4/2025 2:32:00 PM | Football
Reese & Sonny Styles are Butkus and Lombardi semifinalists; Caden Curry a Lombardi semifinalist
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior linebacker Arvell Reese, who has set career tackle highs in two of his last three games, has been named the Chuck Bednarik national defensive player of the week for his efforts in the Buckeyes' 38-14 win over Penn State on Saturday.
Reese, who had eight solo tackles and nine total in the win over Illinois, topped that career-best with 12 tackles along with one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss against Penn State. He was part of a defensive unit that limited Penn State to just 60 total yards on 28 plays in the second half of Saturday's win.
Reese is Ohio State's leading tackler this season with 54 stops. He is second on the team with 9.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks while also contributing two pass breakups and two QB hurries to his superb stat line. He has at least one tackle for loss in four consecutive games and in five of the last six games.
Defense: No. 1 … Top 5 … Top 10 …
Ohio State is No. 1 nationally in scoring defense, total defense, red zone scoring pct., red zone scores, fewest plays over 30 yards and fewest passing plays over 10 yards. The Buckeyes are Top 5 in passing defense, third down conversions and red zone TDs, and they are Top 10 in rushing defense.
Styles & Reese Butkus/Lombardi Semifinalists
Ohio State senior captain Sonny Styles and junior Arvell Reese have been named today as semifinalists for the both the Butkus Award and the Lombardi Award. The duo are part of a 12-team group of semifinalists announced by the Butkus Foundation and the only teammates on the list.
Styles is second on the team to Reese in tackles with 45 and is on his way to a second consecutive 100-tackle season, which would be a first by a Buckeye in 10 years (Raekwon McMillan in 2015-16). Styles also has 2.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and one interception, pass break-up and forced fumble.
Caden Curry a Lombardi Award Semifinalist
Senior defensive end Caden Curry joined Styles and Reese on the Lombardi Award semifinalist's list, giving Ohio State three of the 13 semifinalists. Curry leads Ohio State's defense with 10.5 tackles for loss and with 7.0 quarterback sacks. His yards lost totals of 53 and 48 yards, respectively, also lead the team as does his four quarterback hurries. He is fourth with 37 total tackles.
Curry was the unanimous national defensive player of the week following an outstanding 5.0 tackles for loss/three quarterback sack game against Washington.
Ohio State Buckeye National Award Semifinalists
Butkus Award – Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
Lombardi Award – Caden Curry, Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
Thorpe Award – Caleb Downs
