Wednesday marked the opening day of prospect press conferences at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, with defensive linemen and linebackers leading proceedings at Lucas Oil Stadium. Here are four key takeaways from the sessions.
Arvell Reese’s position remains an open question
Ohio State’s Arvell Reese enters the 2026 NFL Draft as a potential top-five pick, but the question of exactly where he’ll line up in the pros is still very much unsettled.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Reese spent his college career splitting reps between linebacker and edge rusher with the Buckeyes, and he told reporters Wednesday that he’s open to playing either role at the next level. Teams have been probing him about his preferences in pre-combine meetings, with some showing him film of Sam linebackers and edge rushers to gauge his fit at various alignments.
Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia drew a comparison between Reese and former New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins, and the two watched film of Collins together. Reese acknowledged he has room to grow at both spots and wants to add some size, but believes he’s versatile enough to contribute in multiple roles. He plans to run the 40-yard dash at the combine and participate in both linebacker and edge drills.
Georgia’s CJ Allen is skipping combine workouts
One of the draft’s most highly regarded linebackers will not be putting his athleticism on display in Indianapolis this week.
Georgia’s CJ Allen told reporters Wednesday that he is holding off on all athletic testing and positional drills until his pro day. The All-American led the Bulldogs with 88 tackles last season and has firmly established himself as a first-round talent. NFL analysts Bucky Brooks and Daniel Jeremiah both have Allen projected to go 30th overall to the Denver Broncos in their most recent mock drafts. Teams will have to wait a bit longer before they can evaluate him in person.
Sonny Styles is embracing the Fred Warner comparison
Few prospects in this draft class have generated as much universal praise as Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, and the Fred Warner comparisons have followed him every step of the way — something he welcomes.
Standing 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, Styles brings rare size and athleticism to the off-ball linebacker position. Daniel Jeremiah ranks him fifth overall among all prospects in the 2026 class, and mock drafts consistently have him coming off the board in the early portion of Round 1. Off-ball linebackers rarely crack the top 10 in any draft, but Styles is considered an exception given his versatility and football intelligence.
Styles spent his first two years at Ohio State playing safety before converting to linebacker in the spring of 2024, a transition his position coach James Laurinaitis reportedly predicted would lead to a first-round selection. He has modeled parts of his game after Luke Kuechly, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this August. The emphasis for Styles isn’t just on his physical tools — he wants his football IQ to be what defines him at the next level.
Jacob Rodriguez sees strong fits with Bears and Broncos
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is coming off one of the most statistically remarkable seasons in recent college football history, and he arrived in Indianapolis with a clear sense of where he could thrive in the NFL.
Rated as the fourth-best linebacker in the class by NFL.com, Rodriguez led the Red Raiders with 128 tackles last season and became the first Football Bowl Subdivision player since at least 2005 to record seven or more forced fumbles and four or more interceptions in the same season. He plans to participate in all combine events except the bench press.
Rodriguez spoke warmly about his meetings with both the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos, two franchises that could be in the market for linebacker help this offseason. The Broncos could be losing Alex Singleton to free agency, while Tremaine Edmunds’ future with Chicago is uncertain.
Source: NFL.com
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