NFL Scouts are starting to discover just how good Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles really is.
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles is going to make an NFL team very, very happy in late April when he is drafted.
This will come as no surprise to Buckeyes fans who have gotten to watch his entire career unfold, and while he is not only the top linebacker this year, he might become one of the best players in the draft.
Styles came to Ohio State as a safety and quickly moved to linebacker as it was clearly the better fit. He got his first real chance as a Junior on Ohio State's National Championship team and took full advantage of it. Alongside Cody Simon, Styles thrived.
He finished 2024 with 100 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, and five pass breakups. He had an opportunity to come out to the draft last year but wisely returned for his senior season.
2025 was a great opportunity for Styles to master his craft as a three-down linebacker who can command and lead a defense. He did that and proved that he has the entire toolbox that is needed to be a great defender in the NFL.
As the draft process starts to heat up, scouts and evaluators are starting to realize just how good Styles really is. Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network commented on Styles a few weeks back, saying,
"Sign me up for Ohio St LB Sonny Styles! Perfect for today's NFL. 6'4 3/8 237 LB former safety with outstanding instincts, range, and physicality. Gives me Fred Warner vibes. The game vs Indiana is a highlight tape."
Others share similar thoughts on the Ohio State linebacker.
His linebacking partner, Arvell Reese, stole the headlines all season long as he put together a stellar season. Reese was climbing the draft boards with weekly highlight performances while Styles put together consistent play week after week.
Styles, to me, is the guy who can transform your defense immediately for both the short and long term. The day that he steps into any NFL team's building, that defense instantly gets better right away.
He then has the character that he will continue to improve, continue to get better, and become a cornerstone piece that is a mainstay in the middle of a defense every single Sunday.
He is projected to be a mid-teens draft pick, which actually will be a great fit for him because he will land on a better team. If the traditional linebacker position were valued higher, his name would be off the board within the first hour of the draft.
The Sonny Styles hype will only continue to grow as Draft Night gets closer and closer. Time will tell how high it actually will get.