Every new college football cycle delivers a few teams with enough talent to shift the national conversation, and for 2025, Ohio State sits squarely in that position.
The program enters the season with a roster that blends returning standouts with rising stars who already appear on draft boards months in advance.
Across the country, sports fans, analysts, and bettors follow this group closely, recognizing the Buckeyes as one of the most NFL-ready collections of athletes in the sport. Their performances shape not only Big Ten competition but also early projections for the next professional draft.
A handful of players stand out as particularly primed for the leap. Together, they represent a class capable of defining Ohio State’s season, and perhaps reshaping the early rounds next April.
Arvell Reese: A Linebacker Steadily Building First-Round Momentum
Arvell Reese enters the year as one of the defense’s emotional anchors, the sort of linebacker whose instincts make him impossible to overlook.
Already projected as a premier prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft, Reese shows the ability to read plays before they fully form, a trait that turns routine snaps into opportunities for disruption. He carries himself with a calm that belies his aggression, meeting ball carriers with force yet rarely losing positioning.
For those who track trends within online betting markets, Reese’s presence provides a consistent baseline. His command of the middle of the field often influences how analysts view defensive matchups and how sportsbooks shade numbers around the Ohio State football spread.
A linebacker who anticipates as well as he reacts can tilt momentum early, and bettors pay attention when a defender alters a game’s rhythm.
Week after week, as national broadcasts spotlight his play, Reese’s draft profile strengthens. What looks like promise now could be proof of long-term potential by season’s end, a quiet rise that becomes impossible to ignore.
Caleb Downs: A Safety Who Raises the Floor of an Entire Defense
Some players make a defense better simply by being on the field. Caleb Downs is one of those rare types. Projected as one of the top prospects in the 2026 draft class, Downs brings a combination of discipline, tackling accuracy, and coverage awareness that modern NFL coordinators long for.
His range stretches the width of the field, and his ability to close space turns deep shots into hesitant decisions for opposing quarterbacks.
In online betting environments, defenses that avoid explosive plays tend to carry more reliable projections. Downs functions as Ohio State’s insurance policy in that regard. He limits breakdowns, removes mismatches, and forces offenses to settle for shorter gains, factors that regularly shape totals and prop values.
The coaching staff tests him with varied alignments: single-high coverage, slot support, and hybrid rotations.
No matter the role, the effect remains the same: stability. Downs doesn’t simply prevent mistakes; he prevents uncertainty. He is, in many ways, the structure around which the rest of the secondary settles.
James Peoples: A Running Back Built for Today’s Offensive Landscape
James Peoples is expected to play a significant offensive role in Ohio State’s offensive structure because his versatile playing style matches contemporary football strategies.
The running back demonstrates both patience and speed during his zone runs, reaching the second level to deliver powerful finishes. The coaching staff relies on him during crucial situations because he consistently demonstrates an exceptional ability to convert average plays into essential gains.
The online betting projections that bettors analyze show how Peoples impacts the speed and character of Buckeye games. The team’s rushing statistics improve when he plays, while his receiving skills influence touchdown predictions and inform their offensive strategy between ground-based and spread-out formations.
The entire offense starts to perform better when he achieves a consistent rhythm in his play.
The combination of his receiving skills makes Peoples an attractive prospect for NFL scouts because he shows natural ability to move from handoffs to route running.
The dual-threat ability of his game makes him an appealing prospect for NFL teams because he can excel in both running and receiving roles. His draft prospects could advance from being a dependable player to becoming a more significant prospect if he continues his current development path.
Will Smith Jr.: An Edge Rusher Whose Motor Never Seems to Slow
The NFL seeks edge defenders who deliver speed, technical skills, and non-stop pressure in every defensive play. Will Smith Jr. demonstrates exceptional precision in his role as an edge defender.
Smith Jr. has emerging draft potential as a developing edge rusher and is a prospect to watch for the 2026 NFL Draft because he uses strategic approaches to attack defensive lines while showing aggressive play that creates defensive collapses.
Sports bettors who monitor online betting markets focus on pass-rush statistics because Smith frequently affects the odds for sack totals and opponent scoring predictions.
A defensive edge rusher who creates disruptions through his plays shortens game duration, altering down-and-distance situations and forcing quarterbacks to make quick throws, which in turn affects betting lines.
The coaching staff and scouting team observe Smith as he continues to develop his skills. Smith develops new defensive techniques during each season while maintaining his high-level intensity in his gameplay.
This defensive player will start the season as a draft prospect but may very well become one of the most discussed players in the conference by the end of the year. His career development demonstrates both stability and a positive upward trend.
Bursting With Talent
The 2025 Ohio State Buckeyes feature multiple players who demonstrate professional football abilities, while their development path shows the team’s strong talent base.
The players in this article possess NFL qualities that attract continuous evaluation from scouts and analysts who monitor online betting trends.
The players’ impact extends beyond highlight moments, as they determine Ohio State’s competitive approach and opponent preparation, and influence the future NFL Draft selection process.
The group will lead the Buckeyes toward championship contention while establishing themselves as prominent figures in Sunday football action throughout the season.
The football world is watching their development with laser-like focus as their paths take shape.
*Content reflects information available as of 2025/11/17; subject to change.
