Sonny Styles had an excellent Ohio State career, and he’s about to move on to the NFL. His career has been full of highlights and big plays, yet the one I think of most about him is a play I feel far too few appreciate. On Jack Sawyer‘s legendary scoop-and-score, Styles ran down Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner and blocked him all the way down the field to stop him from catching Sawyer.
That’s the kind of play that highlight reels and fan videos don’t really notice––but it’s also the type of play that NFL scouts love. It shows precision, attention to detail, and incredible top-end speed in a late-game high-stakes situation. That play alone is probably worth a few draft spots to Styles, and he’s already towards the top of the board.
Advertisement
Sonny Styles, Linebacker
Ohio State Buckeyes safety Sonny Styles (6) celebrates a defensive stop during the first half of the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10, 2025.
Draft Projection: high first round
Like fellow Buckeye linebacker Arvell Reese, Styles is going to be an early pick off the board. In fact, Reese and Styles are almost certainly the top two linebackers off the board, and almost certainly in that order. Some mock drafts have Styles over Reese, but the majority don’t.
They are both fast, aggressive, powerful linebackers with amazing football instincts. Both will likely be top five picks, top ten at likely worst. Styles is not falling out of the first round. Styles spent a year further in college than Reese did, which perhaps indicates not quite as much top-end talent, but he’s still pretty close. NFL teams are going to love Styles, and he’s going high in the draft.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Sonny Styles NFL draft profile and projection