Friday Feature #10: Sonny Styles
Ohio State is the number one team in the country, and that is in large part due to its dominant defense. The starting 11 is rife with NFL talent, none more so than at the 2nd level, where both Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles project as early round draft picks. I recently posted about Reese, and now the focus in-depth is on #0 for the Buckeyes. Check out my detailed scouting report on Styles below:
Background & Measurables
Name: Sonny Styles
Year: Senior
Size: 6’5, 243 pounds
Position/Scheme Fit: Hybrid LB/Safety in a 4-3
Former 5-star recruit and #3 player in the State of Ohio back in 2022, according to 247 Sports. His Dad, Lorenzo Styles Sr., played for the Buckeyes before a six-year NFL career with Atlanta and St. Louis that included a Super Bowl XXXIV championship with the Rams. His older brother, Lorenzo Styles Jr., also plays on the football team. He played in 12 games in 2022, and most of them as a 17-year-old true freshman, totalling nine tackles on the season and one tackle-for-loss. He took a step forward in 2023, ranking fifth on the team with 53 tackles and fourth with 32 solo tackles. He played safety his first two seasons, including 12 starts in 2023, and switched to linebacker in the spring of 2024.
He was named second-team all-Big Ten Conference as a junior (coaches' ballot) in 2024 after starting all 16 games at linebacker and finishing second on the team in tackles with 100. His tackle total included 48 solo stops and 10.5 tackles for losses totalling 59 yards, with six of those TFLs quarterback sacks. He also had five pass break-ups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2024, helping to lead the Buckeyes to the National Championship. He has been a hot name in NFL draft circles ever since that 2024 season, and was named to the Senior Bowl 300 before the season and has lived up to that status thus far in 2025.
Detailed Scouting Report
Strengths
1. Experienced, veteran player at the 2nd level for Ohio State who has good instincts and football IQ. Keeps his eyes disciplined and rarely falls for play fakes and tends to make the right reads on option plays.
2. Real leader and tone-setter for the Ohio State defense. Hustle back on plays over his head is at an elite level, and he is rarely out of position. Versatile player as well, who has played in a multitude of positions for the Buckeyes’ defense with minimal fuss.
3. Excellent straight-line athlete, who comes downhill in a hurry. Makes plays in space, breaks up screen plays and can tackle in the flat when asked to play in coverage at the outside slot. Teams will really value his combination of athleticism and versatility.
4. Has improved his tackling consistency in 2025 thus far. Really committed to the contact area and looks stronger with better technique to meet the ball-carrier in the hole. Yet to miss a single tackle in 2025 through 10 games and 453 defensive snaps.
5. Despite some lapses in coverage, I do believe it is an overall positive in his game. Has good coverage instincts, while he looks consistent and quick on his backpedal. He may even have more to give in that area, as he has an INT and 2 PBUs over his last 4 games.
Development Points
1. Has a bit of a tweener build. Looks a bit like a box safety but plays quite a bit at Will for the Buckeyes. May not have the size and bulk to hold up full-time in that role in the NFL, so position/scheme fit could be a concern for certain teams.
2. Can be a bit slow to change direction in man coverage. Beaten over the middle on crossing routes a little too easily at times, particularly against Oregon in 2024, where he gave up 8 catches for almost 100 yards, mostly to Terrance Ferguson. I would like to see him improve his ability to navigate the traffic over the middle to trail the receiver and make a play on the ball.
3. Has been deployed as a Will but lacks the real pass-rushing chops to be effective there consistently on all 3 downs. Decent as a delayed blitzer up the “A” gap, but he has no sacks this year and has played more off the line.
4. Question marks over his overall ceiling for me as an NFL prospect. His playmaking is at a high level, and he is smooth in his transitions and footwork. I just have yet to be convinced we are looking at a truly elite LB prospect at the top-end of the draft.
Conclusion
Styles has emerged as a real leader for the Buckeyes, following the departure of Cody Simon to the NFL. He plays across the 2nd level of the defense, showcasing his versatility in every game. His tackling has improved dramatically since 2024, and his coverage skills are among the best in the LB class. He is listed at 243, but I am not sure he has the size and bulk to play consistently as a Will at the next level, so he may need a hybrid role in the right scheme to be successful at the next level. Overall, I believe Styles is a Top 5 LB prospect in this class and a borderline 1st-rounder with certain teams, but at worst a Day 2 player with potential to be a multi-year starter in the NFL.
Grade: 6.9/9.0 (1st-2nd round grade)
Player Comp: DeMarvion Overshown
Team Fits: Patriots, Lions, Saints