'A freak of nature': NFL stars break down Ohio State's top 2026 draft prospects

Ohio State has a strong contingent of prospects expected to be early selections in the 2026 NFL Draft , and many will be looking to impress NFL talent evaluators at the school's March 25 pro day. The good news for a handful of these Buckeyes? They have already managed to impress a couple of their future peers.

That would be Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and New Orleans Saints edge rusher Chase Young . Each spoke glowingly of their alma mater's top prospects in interviews with USA TODAY Sports at the 2026 New Balance Kickoff , where the company unveiled its new Rev X and Rev iQ football cleats.

Harrison and Young – who are two of New Balance's five sponsored NFL athletes – detailed the hands-on experience they had working with Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Carnell Tate, who are all presently expected to be top 10 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. The universal theme of their analyses? All have the tools needed to be impact players at the NFL level.

Arvell Reese Young never overlapped with any of the players at Ohio State, but he has been training with Reese in Florida as the 20-year-old prepares for the 2026 NFL Draft. His takeaway from seeing the versatile defender in action? "I look at him like a young Chase Young," the veteran pass rusher said.