Former Ohio State linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles anchored a historic defense in the 2025-26 college football season. The two are also among the NFL's best defensive rookies and have some of the best odds to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Starting for the New York Giants Oct. 4, Reese flourished with eight solo tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and three pass deflections in his team's 36-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. He snagged the first pick of his career when teammate Shelby Harris deflected a pass from Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
Four games into his NFL career, Reese has already made an impact with the
Giants, and he leads the NFL in solo tackles with 27.
Arvell Reese keeps making PLAYS 😤
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2026
AZvsNYG on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tacenPoxF4
Styles, meanwhile, had his breakout game for the Washington Commanders in their Week 3 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Against the defending Super Bowl champions, Styles had an interception, forced fumble, quarterback hit, two pass deflections and five combined tackles.
Styles' first interception came when Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold threw a pass that deflected off the helmet of Commanders defensive tackle Tim Settle. Styles leapt up to snag the ball before former OSU receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba could get a hand on it.
SONNY STYLES INTERCEPTION
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 27, 2026
📺 #SEAvsWAS FOX pic.twitter.com/iv9cWR33Es
Styles' play landed him NFC Defensive Player of the Week Honors in Week 3.
With Reese and Styles as clear standouts among NFL rookies, see where they stand in NFL DROY betting odds below.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year betting odds
Odds via BetMGM Oct. 6
- LB Jacob Rodriguez, Miami Dolphins: +175
- LB Arvell Reese, New York Giants: +300
- LB Sonny Styles, Washington Commanders: +700
- DE David Bailey, New York Jets: +1500
- S Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys: +1800
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, a second-round NFL draft pick from Texas Tech, leads all players in NFL DROY betting odds, per BetMGM. Rodriguez broke the Dolphins record for most tackles by a rookie in a single game with 18 combined in a loss to the Vikings on Oct. 4.
Reese has the next best odds to win the award, with Styles trailing his former teammate. Fellow ex-Ohio State player Caleb Downs, a safety for the Dallas Cowboys, has the fifth-best odds to win the award at +1800.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Where Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles rank in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds
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