Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles isn’t just having a great combine by 2026 standards — he’s in the process of having one of the greatest outings of all time.
Largely seen as “the other Ohio State linebacker” next to pass rusher Arvell Reese, Styles projects to be a jack-of-all-trades defensive player in the NFL, with Fred Warner being his high-end draft comp, and his bottom end being a productive yet unremarkable player. After one day in Indianapolis, the results are trending more towards that Warner comparison, and teams are being blown away.
Already boasting ideal size at 6’5, 244 pounds, Styles is matching that frame with eye-boggling athleticism.
Pair these base metrics with Styles background as a former safety and it’s easy to see why he is the hottest name in the draft right now — the kind of player who captures the imagination with pro-ready tackling and instincts, but marrying them with someone who has the speed to rush the passer, or drop back in coverage on stunts.
Not only was Styles an elite football prospect out of high school, but he made waves in basketball as well — which explains his ludicrous jumping ability.
Piece all this together and you have an absolute unicorn. A guy who is roughly the same size as Derrick Henry, but faster than CeeDee Lamb. If the agility drills come close to matching the measurables, we have a guy who could be selected in the Top 5 now because of that potential.
If there’s a chance to grab Fred Warner in the draft, you take it — no matter how high. That’s the impact Styles is having on the combine.
