Developed Here: Arvell Reese Drafted No. 5 Overall by New York Giants

PITTSBURGH – Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese was selected fifth overall in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night by the New York Giants. Overall, the Buckeyes now have 97 first-round selections in program history, the most all time, and 18 first-round picks in the Ryan Day era (2019-present).

He became the first Ohio State linebacker taken in the first round since Darron Lee went 20th overall to the New York Jets in 2016. Additionally, Reese is tied for the second highest-drafted Buckeyes linebacker as he matched A.J. Hawk who was picked fifth in the 2006 NFL Draft to the Packers. Tom Cousineau remains the highest-drafted linebacker in program history after being selected No. 1 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1979 NFL Draft.

With Carnell Tate being selected fourth overall to the Titans to go along with Reese's aforementioned selection, Ohio State has had a pair of Buckeyes taken in the top five of the NFL Draft on four occasions over the last 30 years (since 1996) and is the only school in the country who has achieved this milestone this multiple times:

1997

Orlando Pace, 1st Overall, Round 1 – St. Louis Rams

Shawn Springs, 3rd Overall, Round 1 – Seattle Seahawks

2016:

Joey Bosa, 3rd Overall, Round 1 – San Diego Chargers

Ezekiel Elliott, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Dallas Cowboys

2020:

Chase Young, 2nd Overall, Round 1 – Washington Redskins

Jeff Okudah, 3rd Overall, Round 1 – Detroit Lions

2026:

Carnell Tate, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Tennessee Titans

Arvell Reese, 5th Overall, Round 1 – New York Giants

With that, Alabama (2023), Oklahoma (2010), Auburn (2005), Texas (2002), Penn State (2000) and Illinois (1996) have all accomplished this on one occasion.

Also those picks extended Ohio State's active streak of at least one first rounder being taken that dates to 2016, the longest in the Big Ten.

The Buckeyes have now had 63 linebackers taken in the NFL Draft, which ranks second all-time to Penn State.

Finally, since Ryan Day officially was named Ohio State's head coach on Dec. 4, 2018, Ohio State has had 20 alumni declare for the NFL Draft early and forgo their final year of eligibility and all of them have been drafted with 13 being picked in the first round.

2019:

Nick Bosa, 2nd Overall, Round 1 – San Francisco 49ers

Dwayne Haskins, 15th Overall, Round 1 – Washington Redskins

Michael Jordan, 136th Overall, Round 4 – Cincinnati Bengals

2020:

Chase Young, 2nd Overall, Round 1 – Washington Redskins

Jeff Okudah, 3rd Overall, Round 1 – Detroit Lions

J.K. Dobbins, 55th Overall, Round 2 – Baltimore Ravens

2021:

Justin Fields, 11th Overall, Round 1 – Chicago Bears

Tommy Togiai, 132nd Overall, Round 4 – Cleveland Browns

2022:

Garrett Wilson, 10th Overall, Round 1 – New York Jets

Nicholas Petit-Frere, 69th Overall, Round 3 – New Orleans Saints

2023:

C.J. Stroud, 2nd Overall, Round 1 – Houston Texans

Paris Johnson Jr., 6th Overall, Round 1 – Arizona Cardinals

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 20th Overall, Round 1 – Seattle Seahawks

Luke Wypler, 190th Overall, Round 6 – Cleveland Browns

2024:

Marvin Harrison Jr., 4th Overall, Round 1 – Arizona Cardinals

Mike Hall Jr., 54th Overall, Round 2 – Cleveland Browns

2025:

Josh Simmons, 32nd Overall, Round 1 – Kansas City Cheifs

Quinshon Judkins, 36th Overall, Round 2 – Cleveland Browns

2026:

Carnell Tate, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Tennessee Titans

Arvell Reese, 5th Overall, Round 1 – New York Giants

Still Awaiting Selection:

Caleb Downs

Kayden McDonald

Max Klare

What They're Saying:

Head Coach Ryan Day:
"The Giants are getting a young dominant player who has a huge ceiling. Arvell has elite traits and is someone who has worked tirelessly to put himself in this position. As a Cleveland and Ginn Academy product, we are all excited to watch him transition to the NFL and become a franchise player.
Joel Klatt (FOX):
"The sky's the limit with this guy. He's just a one year starter for Ohio State, but Matt Patricia found out real quick he's the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, and obviously a long time NFL Defensive Coordinator, and he immediately knew what he had with Arvell Reese, which was a versatile game wrecker. He deployed him right away week one against Texas and arch Manning. He was out there using him in creative ways, and that's what I would say would be his best usage in the National Football League. He is positionless. He creates something and allows that athleticism to really take hold. He's a guy that's in a Michael Parsons type of mold. This is a really, really good football player."
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL Network):
"You see him off the ball and on the ball. The versatility shows up in every game. How about the ability to pursue laterally? Big time, big time, explosive burst to get there. You see that again, the pursuit, able to win off the edge, and then that closing two steps, he can really get going. And this is the difference between him and Bailey. He's got a little more knock back power. You see it as a bull rusher. You also see it as a point of attack in the run game."
Charles Davis (NFL Network):
"He's a Giant. Now, he's gonna run to play like a Giant. Having been positionless, it'd be interesting how they dole out the assignments."

Giants - Buckeyes Connection:

New York has now drafted 22 Buckeyes, most recently selecting Eli Apple in the first round round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Reese became the fourth to be picked in the first round.

Arvell Reese – New York Giants, 1st Round (No. 5 overall)

Reese is a superbly talented linebacker who exploded onto the national scene as a true junior in 2025.

He capped a three-year career with Ohio State in 2025 by being named a consensus All-American with first-team honors by the Associated Press, Football Coaches Association of America and Walter Camp.

Also named the Big Ten Conference's Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and a first-team all-Big Ten selection.

Totaled 69 tackles during an exceptional 2025 season with 10.0 tackles for losses for 45 yards, 6.5 quarterback sacks, five quarterback hurries and two pass break-ups.

Recorded a career-best 12 tackles vs. Penn State and had nine vs. both Texas and Illinois.

Closed his three-year career with 112 tackles, 13.5 TFLs for losses totaling 57 yards. 7.0 QB sacks and seven QB hurries.

Played in 38 games and started 14 times.

Had a fine sophomore campaign in 2024 when he played in all 16 games for the CFP national champions and totaled 322 snaps on defense and 512 snaps overall.

Recorded 43 total tackles in 2024, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss plus had two quarterback hurries.

He played in eight games in 2023 as a freshman with all 58 of his plays coming on special teams.

He is a two-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

Honors & Awards:

2025: Consensus All-American (Associated Press, AFCA and Walter Camp), Big Ten Conference Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year, Academic All-Big Ten

2024: OSU Scholar-Athlete, Academic All-Big Ten

2023: OSU Scholar-Athlete

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