TribLive highlights the top prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
Sonny Styles
School: Ohio State
Position: Linebacker
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 244 pounds
One of the highest risers among NFL Draft prospects has Western Pennsylvania roots.
The son of a Mercer County hall of famer, Styles is expected to be drafted in the first handful of picks next month thanks to his eye-opening performance at the scouting combine.
The 21-year-old Buckeyes star ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds and recorded a 43 1/2-inch vertical leap that ranked best among all off-ball linebackers at the combine since 2003, according to NFL.com. He also posted an 11-foot-2 broad jump, ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.26 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.09.
For perspective, NFL research compared Styles to some current pros: He was taller than Mike Evans, faster than George Pickens, quicker than Patrick Peterson, jumped higher than Davate Adams, more explosive than Derwin James Jr. and heavier than Trent Coles.
But the buzz around Styles isn’t just about his measurables. The senior was Ohio State’s leading tackler last season, making 14 more than highly touted teammate Avrell Reese.
Styles had 82 tackles, one interception and forced one fumble. He made 100 tackles the previous season when Ohio State won the national championship.
Draft analysts like his ability to slip through traffic, avoid blocks and finish tackles. He initially played safety when he first arrived in Columbus but made the position switch to linebacker two years ago.
Did you know?
Styles grew up in Pickerington, Ohio, but his father, Lorenzo, was a high school football star for Farrell in the early 1990s and later played linebacker at Ohio State.
On draft
Here is a look at where the top NFL Draft analysts rank Styles among all prospects and players at his position:
Draft expert — overall/LBs
Mel Kiper Jr. — fourth/first
Daniel Jeremiah — third/first
Todd McShay — second/first
Field Yates — fifth/first
Quotable
“Any of the teams in the top seven that want a great linebacker — not just off-ball, you can do a lot of things creatively with him — Sonny Styles is going to be very, very much a guy to watch.” — ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
