EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) 鈥� Sharing the field for two college seasons, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs helped win a national title powered by a dominant defense.
More than a year removed from that celebration, as Downs reminded his two former teammates on NFL draft night, they are now the competition.
A domino effect in the first round landed them all in the same division, the NFC East. at No. 5, the two picks later after Kansas City leapfrogged them for another prospect and the at No. 11.
鈥淚t’s a blessing,鈥� Reese said at his introductory news conference Friday. “That means a lot that we get to play in the same division, grow against each other, compete with each other. That鈥檚 all we ever did at Ohio State.鈥�
They also did a lot of winning together, going 30-4 at Ohio State, including the College Football Playoff national championship game in January 2025.
鈥淲e had like-minded people: guys who love football, love to win, love their brothers,鈥� Styles said Friday at the Commanders’ facility in Ashburn, Virginia. “When you have good people off the field and like-minded on the field, good things happen and it鈥檚 easy to gel.鈥�
The Buckeyes had four players chosen in the top 11, with Carnell Tate being the first wide receiver , where his new offensive coordinator is . A total of 99 Ohio State products have gone in the first round, the most of any school, including 20 since Ryan Day took over as coach in 2019.
鈥淚 think it probably speaks to most great, big accomplishments done as part of a team,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said, recalling Styles and Downs complimenting each other in the pre-draft process when they were apart. 鈥淭hat spoke to these two players鈥� humility, who were probably the biggest pieces of the communication hub for Matt (Patricia) and their defense at Ohio State.鈥�
After all the hoopla of putting on new hats, shaking Commissioner Roger Goodell’s hand and posing for pictures, Reese, Styles and Downs got to enjoy a moment together at the hotel in Pittsburgh following the first round on Thursday night.
鈥淲e are excited for each other,鈥� Styles said. 鈥淐an鈥檛 wait to get to work. Obviously, we鈥檙e going to get after them.鈥�
They’ll be seeing a lot of each other over the next several years: twice a season if they’re healthy and playing. Downs on Friday at his Cowboys intro news conference said he jokingly told Styles to get away from him because they’re on different sides of a heated rivalry.
Their championship bond will last forever, but the trash talk has already begun.
鈥淚t happened the moment I had seen them,鈥� Downs said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an awesome feeling to know that they both got picked, along with Carnell. Looking forward to playing against them.鈥�
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AP Pro Football Writer Schuyler Dixon in Frisco, Texas, and AP freelance writer Ethan Cadeaux in Ashburn, Virginia, contributed to this report.
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