Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Carnell Tate are already being anointed as future NFL stars by current players, with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Chase Young using the “freak of nature” label to describe their rare athletic traits and immediate draft impact potential.
The buzz around Ohio State’s 2026 NFL Draft prospects isn’t just hypothetical—it’s coming from the mouths of current NFL stars. At the 2026 New Balance Kickoff event, where the brand unveiled its new Rev X and Rev iQ cleats, Cardinal wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Saint edge rusher Chase Young offered glowing, peer-to-peer assessments of three Buckeyes who are already cementing their status as generational talents.
Their collective message? Ohio State’s trio—linebacker/edge Arvell Reese, linebacker Sonny Styles, and wide receiver Carnell Tate—possesses the physical tools and developmental arcs to become immediate, game-changing NFL players. This peer validation, coming from two of the league’s premier young stars, accelerates the draft narrative from projection to near-certainty.
Arvell Reese: The “Freak” Redefining the Edge
Chase Young, who did not overlap with Reese at Ohio State but has trained with him in Florida, drew a direct lineage to his own career. Young stated that Reese reminds him of a “young Chase Young,” noting shared attributes: both entered the NFL as younger prospects—Young was 21 at draft day in 2020, Reese will be 20 in 2026—and both boast hyper-athletic builds.
Reese’s combine performance quantified that athleticism. He clocked a blistering 4.46-second 40-yard dash, a time that Young emphasized sets him apart. “He’s a freak of nature,” Young said. “He’s freakier than me. I wouldn’t have ran a 4.4.” Marvin Harrison Jr., who overlapped with Reese for one season in Columbus, echoed this exact phrasing, adding that Reese has transformed from a “raw athlete” into a refined skill player over his collegiate career.
This combination of youth, verified speed, and rapid development positions Reese as a potential top-five selection, with Young confident he will succeed regardless of the team that drafts him. The “freak” moniker isn’t just hype—it’s backed by measurable traits that NFL teams covet for edge defenders.
Sonny Styles: The Ultimate Athletic Anomaly
If Reese is a “freak,” then Sonny Styles is, in Harrison’s words, irreplaceable. “You’re not going to find someone else like Sonny,” Harrison remarked, citing Styles’ 6-foot-5, 244-pound frame and his background as a high-level basketball player.
Styles’ all-time performance at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine (Yahoo Sports), which included record-setting vertical jumps and speed metrics, came as no surprise to Harrison. “The combine – obviously, I knew he was going to do that, but nobody else did,” Harrison said. “He’s really just a freak athlete.”
Harrison also highlighted Styles’ positional transition from safety to linebacker as a testament to his versatility and football IQ. This adaptability, combined with his physical profile, makes Styles a uniquely valuable prospect who could fill multiple roles for an NFL team from day one.
Carnell Tate: The Mentorship Product
Harrison saved his deepest admiration for Tate, whom he mentored during their overlapping season at Ohio State. “I knew he’d always be special,” Harrison said, reflecting on Tate’s growth from a freshman to a polished wide receiver.
Tate’s trajectory mirrors that of other Ohio State receivers who have flourished in the NFL, a fraternity Harrison now belongs to. Harrison expressed confidence that Tate will quickly join that group, citing his improved route running and hands over three seasons. “Just watching him grow these past few years has been amazing,” Harrison added, emphasizing Tate’s readiness for the next level.
With Tate’s skill set aligning with NFL offensive schemes, he is projected as a likely first-round pick, potentially adding to Ohio State’s recent streak of producing top-tier wide receivers.
Why This Matters: The Draft Domino Effect
The endorsements from Harrison and Young carry unique weight because they come from peer evaluation, not traditional scouting. Both players embody the modern NFL archetypes that Reese, Styles, and Tate are being compared to: Harrison as a precise, athletic wide receiver, and Young as a disruptive, versatile edge rusher.
Ohio State’s draft capital in 2026 is already immense, with multiple players slotted in the top 10 of early mock drafts (Yahoo Sports). The “freak” label from active stars amplifies this, suggesting these prospects could become Pro Bowl-caliber players faster than expected. For franchises with high picks, like the New York Jets or Carolina Panthers, landing one of these talents could redefine their defensive or offensive trajectories.
Historically, Ohio State has produced NFL stars at these positions, from Joey Bosa to Chris Olave. The current class appears to be next in line, with the added validation of NFL peer recognition shortening the typical adjustment curve.
The Fan Calculus: What-Ifs and Mock Draft Frenzy
Fan excitement is already surging, with social media debates raging over which team will snag Reese or Styles. Mock drafts consistently place Reese and Styles in the top 10, while Tate is climbing into the first round. The “freak” narrative fuels speculation that teams might trade up to secure these talents, especially given the premium on defensive playmakers and explosive receivers.
For Ohio State fans, the prospect of seeing three players go in the top 10 would be historic, continuing the program’s dynasty-era draft dominance. For NFL fans, the conversation has shifted from “will they be good?” to “how good can they be?”—a direct result of insider praise from players who have walked the same path.
As pro day approaches on March 25, all eyes will be on these Buckeyes to validate the hype with on-field performances. But the foundation has already been laid by those who know best: the NFL’s own.
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