
One rising prospect in the college football world that everyone is talking about is Arvell Reese, one of the most interesting NFL draft picks of this year. Many analysts and former CFB athletes have been discussing his potential lately. Also joining the list was Joel Klatt, a former Colorado QB who is now a commentator and analyst at Fox Sports.
During his recent discussion, he compared Reese directly to Micah Parsons, one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive players. But what stood out even more was his claim that Reese could be “more physical” than Parsons.
“Arvell just started for one year at Ohio State, and during that year, he just scratched the surface of playing on the edge…And so He can do all the things, from a versatility standpoint, that Micah can do, and yet he’s just scratching the surface, and he’s bigger than Micah, and he’s longer than Micah,” Klatt stated.
Joel Klatt: "(Arvell Reese) is a longer, more physical Micah Parsons. And he's just scratching the surface." pic.twitter.com/94xYOYwFt2
— The Buckeye Nut (@TheBuckeyeNut) March 18, 2026
The statement immediately grabbed attention. Parsons has already built a reputation as a game wrecker at the highest level. Yet, Klatt believes Reese not only matches that but may eventually surpass it.
While inexperience is a con for quarterbacks, Klatt likes to think that, for a defensive role, it can actually prove helpful. In Reese’s case, the former Colorado star sees this as a “green flag.” Since he already doesn’t have enough experience and hasn’t reached the ceiling yet, there’s room for improvement.
Klatt highlighted that it is Reese’s explosiveness that can help him a ton against a dominant force.
“Now, I think that for him, his his next step in maturation is becoming like a great first step pass rusher, and I think that he can do that because he’s incredibly explosive. But Arvell is, is the type of guy that can have a Micah Parsons impact,” Klatt claimed.
Beyond physical traits, Reese’s ability to play in multiple roles can prove essential to his team. This versatility is exactly what modern defences value the most. If Reese continues on this trajectory, his draft stock will only rise from here. While being compared to a star like Parsons is rare and appreciable, living up to it is actually hard. Fortunately, Reese appears to have the tools for it.
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