Linebacker Arvell Reese and safety Caleb Downs, former teammates at Ohio State, are set to begin their NFL careers on opposite sides of a prominent rivalry. Reese, drafted by the New York Giants, and Downs, selected by the Dallas Cowboys, will face each other in the season opener on "Sunday Night Football."
The two players were teammates at Ohio State before entering the NFL Draft. For a period on April 23, it appeared they might both land with the Giants, potentially sharing a moving van to East Rutherford, New Jersey. However, the Giants drafted Reese with the No. 5 overall pick and then selected guard Sisi Mauigoa at No. 10. They passed on Downs twice, with the Cowboys trading up to select him at No. 11.
"I was in the back room when the pick was made, and I did think about [teaming up], like ‘Dang, that would’ve been nice,’ " Reese told The Post. "Then again, we got Sisi, and Sisi’s a dawg. There’s no wrong pick."
Reese and Downs will now open their rookie campaigns in a divisional matchup, a stark contrast to their earlier hopes of playing together. Their proximity in the draft and their shared college background set the stage for an immediate storyline in their professional careers.