Four-star linebacker Arvell Reese always thought he'd be taking his commitment the distance.
Not only has that typically been the norm for players from Glenville High School, but Reese also had only been offered by the Buckeyes since March.
“It’ll definitely be late since my recruitment started late,” Reese said earlier in June regarding when he planned on making a decision. “So it’ll probably be around November or December.”
Ohio State didn't want to wait that long. In the end, neither did Reese.
Reese felt comfortable enough in his relationship with OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, running backs coach Tony Alford and senior advisor and analyst Matt Guerrieri to pull the trigger and end his recruitment by committing to Ohio State. He gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on Saturday, ending his recruitment and becoming a member of Ohio State's 2023 recruiting class.
“I would say relationships, that's the school that’s really recruited me the most,” Reese said of the most appealing thing of playing for the Buckeyes while being interviewed after an Ohio State recruiting camp in June. “Also, it’s Ohio State. I’m from Ohio and I play for Glenville. It’s Ohio State, what else can you say?”
On The Field
Reese has talked about what his role will be like at the next level at length with Ohio State coaches over the last few months.
“They see me as an inside linebacker,” Reese said in June. “Blitzing off the edge on third downs, but being an inside linebacker on first and second down. I like playing all over the place. Coming up to the edge and blitzing and sitting in coverage.”
At 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, Reese is still a little raw at the position considering his junior year was his first time ever playing linebacker and he only played in five games in 2022. While Reese will likely start his collegiate career as an inside linebacker, he possesses the speed and agility needed to play outside if necessary, or blitz from the edge. His bull rushing techniques are a bit advanced for his age, and he held his own going against high school offensive tackles.
He excels at shedding blocks and getting to the ball carrier and seemed to improve in situational awareness with each passing week.
Reese also excelled in kickoff coverage and was a willing special teams contributor.
In The Class
Reese is Ohio State's first linebacker commit in the 2023 class and became a must-get after four-star linebacker Tackett Curtis committed to USC last month. He's the seventh prospect from Ohio to commit to OSU this recruiting cycle, as the Buckeyes now have six of the top seven players in the state committed per 247Sports' composite rankings. The Buckeyes also went from the No. 4 spot in the 2023 national recruiting class rankings to No. 3, surpassing Georgia.
He also becomes the first Glenville player to commit to Ohio State in more than five years, and his commitment could spur the return of the famous Glenville to Ohio State pipeline. From 2002 to 2017, 21 Tarblooders played for the Buckeyes.
If the Buckeyes have it their way, they're not going to stop at adding Reese. Ohio State would also love to add four-star 2024 Glenville cornerback Bryce West, a close friend of Reese. The two have discussed playing with each other at the next level.
“Me and Bryce, we talk all the time about the opportunities that we’ve got,” Reese said in June. “We definitely will want to team up in college.”
West himself echoed those sentiments.
“That’s my boy,” West said in June. “We’ve basically got every same offer. We got the same top five, top 10. I talk to him every day, grew up with him since I was six. I’ve been playing football with him since I was six, he’s like a big brother to me.”
Following Reese's commitment, West was among many to congratulate Reese on picking Ohio State.
Proud of you boa
— (@bryvonny) August 6, 202
