Arvell Reese, Ohio State’s Swiss Army Knife and make-or-break piece for The Game

If Ohio State is going to walk out of Ann Arbor with a win this weekend, Arvell Reese is the player most likely to decide it, in my opinion. Reese’s combination of size, speed, and football IQ has turned him into a true multi-tool defender for the Buckeyes. A linebacker who can read and fit the run, flip into coverage, shoot A and B gaps as a blitzer, line up on the edge, or slide into a quarterback spy role when the opponent asks for it. Put simply, Michigan’s offense poses a variety of challenges, and Reese is the single player on Ohio State’s roster best equipped to answer all of them in one single game.

Why Reese matters: versatility that matches up with everything Michigan will try

Reese is far more than just another productive linebacker at Ohio State. At 6-4 and roughly 243 pounds, he combines length and explosiveness with the agility and speed to diagnose a play, redirect in space, and drop seamlessly into coverage all within the same snap. Over the past season, the Ohio native has moved from a rotational contributor to an every-down presence, and this year, his numbers, tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks reflect how often Ohio State is asking him to do multiple jobs on the same drive. Scouts and draft analysts now project him as a hybrid piece, part off-ball linebacker, part edge rusher, because he can be deployed in nickel packages, as a gap shooter on early downs, or as an isolated coverage defender against tight ends and backs. Those traits are exactly why he matters and is so important against Michigan.

Matchup problem: Bryce Underwood and Michigan’s varied attack

Michigan’s offense, especially with freshman Bryce Underwood under center, is both capable of explosive throws and prone to freshman decision swings. Underwood can extend plays, hit chunk throws to Andrew Marsh or their other WRs, or put the offense on the shoulders of the run game. That variability forces defenders to be disciplined but also flexible. You must contain the run, deter the deep shot, and be ready for the QB to scramble or buy time. Reese’s ability to act as a QB spy, slide to the edge to rush the passer, or drop into a mid-zone to take away windows makes him uniquely valuable in limiting Underwood’s upside while forcing Michigan to live with his mistakes. Those who have watched Michigan this season have seen Underwood’s highs and lows, which makes Ohio State’s ability to control the pocket and disguise rushes against him all the more important.

How Ohio State can use Reese to tilt the Game

There are a handful of specific ways Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia can use Reese to tilt the matchup.

• QB spy on designed rollouts or scramble threats. When Michigan calls plays that live or die on the QB’s legs, Reese can shade the pocket and eliminate the easy escape lane. That helps the defensive ends sell rush and funnels the QB into a controlled squeeze, and right into Reese’s arms.

• A/B gap blitzes on obvious passing downs. Reese has the burst and hands to shoot a seam and punish slow interior protection. Getting home up the middle not only creates sacks but also collapses the pocket and wrecks timing for a freshman QB.

• Off-ball responsibilities against the run. Reese diagnoses quickly, reads his keys, and fills gaps with authority. Against a Michigan front that will test Ohio State’s inside leverage, having Reese read and react properly is essential to prevent chunk runs.

• Matchup coverage on tight ends or slot WRs. Reese can mirror larger targets more comfortably than many linebackers, allowing Ohio State to keep a thumper on the field without automatically subbing to smaller nickel personnel if Michigan decides to go with bigger formations. That roster flexibility really matters late in tight games.

Why is he the make-or-break player

The reason Reese is the “make or break” player isn’t just because he makes splash plays; it’s because his role is a fulcrum for so many of Ohio State’s defensive answers. If Reese plays assignment-sound, plays fast to the ball, and can execute spy duties when called upon, Ohio State can defend both the run and the young QB’s capacity to extend plays. If he over-pursues, gets caught too far upfield, or is neutralized in one phase, Michigan can exploit that single point of failure in multiple ways. Quick passes to Marsh, QB extensions into the perimeter, or interior runs through vacated seams.

What a “huge” game looks like

A dominant Reese game, in my opinion, would look something like this. A handful of tackles for loss or pressures on passing downs, a few critical QB containments where Underwood is forced into hurried throws or sacks, a few high-leverage third down stops in coverage, and consistent gap integrity on early downs that shut down Michigan’s interior running lanes. Those plays may not all show up as flashy boxscore stats, but they change the scoreboard and the quarterback’s comfort level. When Reese is playing elite football, opposing playcallers visibly hesitate to let their QB roam, and that hesitation grows into incomplete drives and punts, exactly what Ohio State needs in a rivalry game decided by momentum and mistakes.

Final note

Arvell Reese isn’t just another name in the matchup; he’s the piece that shapes Ohio State’s entire defensive plan. For Ohio State to contain Bryce Underwood’s upside and limit Andrew Marsh’s explosiveness while also stopping the ground game, Reese must be ready to do everything asked of him. He is the kind of versatile defender whose presence can erase schematic advantages and force Michigan into a more one-dimensional approach. If Reese controls the point of attack, Ohio State’s defense transforms into the kind of steady, suffocating unit you need in a game where every third down carries playoff stakes. If he’s neutralized, the Buckeyes will feel it immediately. More than almost anyone on the field this weekend, Reese’s performance has the power to tilt the outcome of this game, and maybe the rivalry as a whole.