How Arvell Reese has moved up in Ohio State football linebacker rotation

Arvell Reese dealt with hurdles as a freshman at Ohio State last year.

It began in preseason training camp when the staff explored a potential position switch to defensive end in an effort to take advantage of the length of the 6-foot-4 linebacker.

Then while covering a kickoff in a nonconference game against Youngstown State , he suffered a concussion that sidelined him for a month.

“I ain’t never been injured like that for that long,” Reese said, “so it was hard.”

But his sophomore season has seen a smoother start. In victories over Akron and Western Michigan, Reese has played more snaps at linebacker than anyone outside of Sonny Styles , who has played 92, according to Pro Football Focus.

Reese logged 32 snaps in the season opener while starting middle linebacker Cody Simon was unavailable with a lower-body injury. Then Reese was on the field for 20 snaps in Week 2.

While the larger role has been partly the result of injuries and lopsided wins over the Mid-American Conference schools, Reese, a former four-star prospect from Glenville High School in Cleveland, has also climbed the depth chart due to his development over the last year.

“He has made tremendous improvements since he arrived here,” Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “He’s got tremendous physical tools, so for a linebacker, it’s just a matter of knowing what to do and not having to think about it.

“What you’re seeing out of Arvell now is he’s understanding where all the pieces go, and he’s able to play fast without thinking.”

Reese has largely lined up as the middle linebacker but also appeared as the third linebacker with Simon and Styles in the heavier personnel package against the Broncos two weeks ago .

In both spots, Reese has made an impact. He’s totaled seven tackles, including one for a loss against the Zips .

“You have to have a mindset that you want to make every tackle,” Reese said. “That’s just the mindset that I have going out there. I want to at least be near every tackle.”

The chance to swarm to the ball has long been the appeal of linebacker to Reese. He said he likes that the position brings more freedom than being positioned on the edge of the line of scrimmage.

“I can make a bunch of plays,” he said.

But taking the right angles to pursue ball carriers or dropping in coverage required a deeper understanding of Knowles’ intricate system.

He put more effort into preparation during the offseason as a result.

“I completely changed from last year,” Reese said. “This year, I’m in the playbook, I’m watching film.”

Reese credited James Laurinaitis, the Buckeyes’ former All-America linebacker who was promoted to linebackers coach in February , for encouraging him.

“Coach Laurinaitis made me really realize that I could do it and actually play,” Reese said. “He always said that if I put the time in, I could do it.”

The level of dedication has contributed to the early results.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com .

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How Arvell Reese has moved up in Ohio State football linebacker rotation