Sonny Styles
Son of Lorenzo Styles Sr., who played LB at Ohio State 1992-94 before a
6-year NFL career. Reclassified up in high school — one of the youngest players in the
2026 draft at 21.
HIGH SCHOOL: Pickerington Central HS (Pickerington, OH). Three-sport standout. Helped
Pickerington Central to an Ohio D-I state runner-up finish as a football sophomore and the
2022 basketball state title as a 6-4 rim protector. Football career: 88 tackles, 1 TFL, 1
sack, 2 PDs, 6 INTs, 1 FF.
RECRUITING: Consensus 5-star, #1 safety in 2022 class. Reclassified to commit early to
Ohio State.
COLLEGE: Started at safety (53 tackles as a frosh in 2023, 4th-most solo on team). Moved to
LB for 2024, embraced the role and excelled in coverage. 2025: All-Big Ten as the centerpiece
of the nation's top defense.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Round 1 top-5. First top-10 LB since 2020 is on the table. Jets (#2) and
Giants (#5) are perfect schematic fits. Key question: is he a modern off-ball LB or a big
nickel / money LB in the NFL?
Scouting Profile
Combine / Pro Day Measurables (reported)
| 40-yard dash | 4.55 |
| Vertical jump (in) | 37.5 |
| Broad jump | 10'4" |
| Bench press (225 reps) | 21 reps |
| 3-cone drill | 7.02 |
| 20-yard shuttle | 4.21 |
| Wingspan | 79.5" |
| Hand size | 10" |
Numbers compiled from NFL Scouting Combine results, Pro Day box scores, and beat-writer reports. "Reported" means cross-referenced against multiple sources; verify on nfl.com/combine for definitive marks.
College Career Stats
- 2023 OSU (Fr S): 53 tackles, 4 PD, 1 FF — SEC freshman backup-level role
- 2024 OSU (So LB): 79 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, CFP champion
- 2025 OSU (Jr LB): 102 tackles, 11 TFL, 3 INT, 6 PD — All-Big Ten
Strengths
- Instinctive run fits — diagnoses gap exchanges and fills with pace
- Coverage chops from his safety background — fluid hips in man
- Sideline-to-sideline range chases plays backside
- Sheds blocks with active hands and natural leverage
- 21-year-old MIKE — youngest LB1 in the class
Weaknesses / Areas to Develop
- Take-on power vs pulling guards still developing
- Crossing-route awareness can lapse vs play-action concepts
- Position is still relatively new — sub-3 years at LB
NFL Pro Comparison
Fred Warner with safety-style range — modern coverage MIKE who diagnoses, runs sideline-to-sideline, and matches up vs RBs/TEs
Outcome Range
- Floor: Three-down starter with second-team All-Pro upside
- Median: Multi-time Pro Bowl MIKE
- Ceiling: Defensive Player of the Year candidate / first top-10 LB since Roquan Smith in 2018
Scheme Fit
Cover-3 / quarters base with frequent man-coverage assignments on TE/RB; perfect for a Vic Fangio / Steve Spagnuolo system
Pre-Draft Visits
Top-30 visits with the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Philadelphia Eagles
Signature College Game
2025 vs Michigan: 14 tackles, 3 TFL, INT — single-handedly shut down the Wolverines' run game in The Game
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