Some (perhaps many) New York Jets fans experience trauma at the drop of a hat. It’s understandable, thanks to the last decade and a half, yet it’s the truth nonetheless.

Only the very real scars of yesteryear could possibly lead the way when a once-a-decade defender like Arvell Reese is mentioned as the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. After all, the kid comes from Ohio State, the very same place that brought us Vernon Gholston.

Pay no matter to the tape, a place that tells the story of Reese’s rabid mindset — one where his transparent mean streak aims to put a dent in the opposition. Pay no mind to the fact that it was Gholston’s stiff-as-a-board physique that greatly contrasts with Reese’s — and actually compares more easily to David Bailey.

“That Ohio State name carries too much baggage” is the oft-unspoken fan fear.

Hey, I get it. But imagine a world that houses a kid whose on-field nastiness is matched by articulating the right things off the field. Or, more appropriately, on this occasion, refusing to say anything at all.

While at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Arvell Reese was pulled aside by Pro Football Talk. Naturally, hosts Mike Florio and Chris Simms would rapid-fire familiar questions aimed to create the shot of a juicy soundbite.

Again, hey, I get it; that’s their job. Reese, however, refused to take the bait and provided the NFL media world with nothing.

Simms tried his hand first by prodding the best player (arguably, alongside Caleb Downs) in this draft to commit to a favorite position.

“You’re an amazing pass-rusher, and you’re an amazing off-the-ball linebacker,” Simms stated at the top. “Which one do you like doing better?”

Reese refused to jump at the question. Rather, he morphed into a semi-thinking man’s pose, with his left hand up to his face and his right hand supporting the left elbow, parallel to the ground.

“I wouldn’t say I like a certain position better, because my role was 50/50 — 50 percent of my snaps I was off-ball, (and) 50 percent of my snaps I was on the ball,” Reese answered, after taking a few seconds to mull over the question.

However, he added context that plenty of NFL franchises undoubtedly appreciated.

“I appreciate both of them (positions), but I see my future more (as an) outside linebacker (EDGE),” Reese stated.

He also confirmed that’s the position most (if not all) of the teams he’s met with envision for him at the NFL level.

Not to be outdone, Florio gave Reese his best shot a few questions later, asking the top prospect about NFL quarterbacks. Florio asked him which quarterback name he would like to sack more than any other.

“No quarterback,” Reese said after a quick chuckle and another few-second pause, only this time, he kept shaking his head from side to side.

After Simms jumped in to change the criteria to “hit,” as opposed to just “sack,” the results remained the same.

“I can’t think of anybody specifically,” Reese answered. “I have to be honest: I can’t think of anybody I want to sack specifically, [nor] anybody I’m trying to tackle … I’m just ready to get there, honestly.”

That, folks, is how an NFL prospect avoids becoming the next headline-for-clicks soundbite. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, a man who’s always more-than-aware of his media surroundings, surely paid attention to this spot.

For a kid who plays defense in a throwback-type fashion, where he has no problem banging in any direction, chucking the opposition backward, and throwing “head-on-a-swivel” caution to the wind, it’s more than noteworthy to point out how well he harnessed that aggression while off-the-field in Indianapolis, Ind.

Often, on-field aggression and off-the-field discipline don’t align for a prospect. If the combine was any indication, that’s not the case for this kid.

Yes, New York Jets fans, Arvell Reese passed a subtle yet oh-so-critical test this past weekend.