Arvell Reese Reveals Inspiration Behind His NFL Draft Suit

Picking out a draft night outfit is a critical task for any hopeful NFL first-round pick. Players want to have something stylish that shows off their personality.

In the case of Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, a potential top-five selection in Thursday's first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the suit choice will be a clever nod to personal branding. The 6-foot-4, 248-pound game-wrecker is using his partnership with Reese's, to make a statement on the red carpet in Pittsburgh.

"I think the suit matches me. I think it matches me perfectly," Reese told Men's Journal of the ensemble, which is based off his favorite candy. "I collaborated with Reese's, but the suit is still me at the end of the day. I'm excited to showcase it."

The next step is here

Reese and Reese's is a natural match for obvious reasons, but the most important connection for the 2025 Big Ten Linebacker of the Year tonight will be with the team that drafts him.

Reese could go off the board as early as the New York Jets at No. 2 overall. Even if he slips beyond the second pick, the Cleveland native won't have to wait long to hear his name called.

"I'm going into it with an open mind," Reese said. "I think whoever picks me, for one, they're going to get a player who plays with relentless effort. Right after that, they going to get a player who plays the game violent. Playing football, especially on the defensive side, you have to play the game and you have to be violent at all times. Football is a violent game. I think I bring that characteristic or trait to the game. I think that's part of my game."

Long time coming

Realizing his NFL dream will be the culmination of a long journey for Reese on and off the field. For several years now, the Buckeyes star has been confident he's on the path to the pros.

"My senior year of high school, once I got the Ohio State offer, I was like, damn, I probably could do it," Reese said of reaching the NFL. "And then as soon as I stepped on campus and like my first couple of fall camp practices, I knew as a freshman, I knew it. And it just came from me, just like I said, just playing with relentless effort. I think my coaches can say the same. As a freshman, I was playing fast and I was playing violent. At that point, I'm thinking I could do it on this level too. And that's when it kind of became reality to me. I had an idea in high school, but my freshman year college, I kind of knew."

Once he's finally part of an NFL organization and ready to display his talents, Reese said he has a couple of things he wants to prove at the next level.

"Something I want to prove as a player going into next year, I just want to tighten up on the fundamentals and the skills and just playing outside backer and inside backer," Reese said. "I just want to tighten up on all my skills and not just do things because I could just do it naturally, but do it because I worked at it and took the time at it. It becomes second nature."

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Sports section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM.