The Ohio State Buckeyes came up short in their quest for consecutive titles, losing to the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff. Despite the setback, their defense left a mark on college football history, potentially securing a place in the annals if three of its stars crack the top 10 in the draft.
One standout from this defensive powerhouse is linebacker Sonny Styles, who, after an impressive NFL Scouting Combine performance, might just be the first Buckeye off the board.
Styles' Rise to Round 1
Styles entered the year as a potential late first-round pick. His 2024 season showed flashes of brilliance, but issues with tackling and coverage left him as more of a project than a surefire starter.
This season, however, he put those doubts to bed. Last year, according to Pro Football Focus, Styles missed 18.4% of his tackles. This time, he missed just two (2.2%), both in the final playoff game.
While no player's film is perfect, Styles delivered a near-flawless season for a linebacker. Transitioning from safety, 2025 was only his second full season as a linebacker, making his upside particularly intriguing. It’s akin to MLB teams taking a chance on dual-threat talents, not necessarily to find the next Shohei Ohtani, but because they’re exceptional athletes yet to specialize fully.
Styles may be the top off-ball linebacker in his class, showing considerable growth in limited time. He’s more than a one-dimensional player, offering special teams value and impressive coverage abilities. His safety instincts translate well to covering low zones, and his length makes him a formidable presence underneath.
His instincts also shine when spying quarterbacks, using his speed to close gaps quickly and effectively.
Against the run, Styles is gap-sound and adept at shedding blocks. He excelled against Indiana’s offensive line, showing power, lateral movement, and burst, resulting in tackles for loss.
In coverage, Styles showed comfort flipping his hips and continued to impress as a blitzer and occasional edge rusher.
Styles' Shrinking Weaknesses
Writing a scouting report on Styles without sounding overly enthusiastic is challenging, but the main factor affecting his draft stock is positional value. He might be the best non-quarterback in the draft, yet teams might hesitate to invest heavily in a non-premium position.
His impact on the passing game strengthens his case, though he still has room to improve in man coverage. He sometimes loses leverage against running backs, relying too much on his athleticism. While he’s comfortable flipping his hips, he excels more when moving downhill rather than covering deep zones.
In run defense, Styles occasionally gets overeager and mispositions himself. It’s a minor flaw, not enough to limit him to passing downs.
Styles’ inexperience at linebacker might lead to some growing pains, especially as a pass rusher. He’s likely behind teammate Reese in this area, as Reese embraced a hybrid role this season.
Styles' NFL Outlook
Styles projects as an above-average starter right from the beginning, with immediate impact potential as a Will or Mike linebacker. His NFL Combine performance bolstered his status as an elite prospect and a potential top-five pick.
In Indianapolis, Styles clocked a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at 6'5", 244 pounds. His 43.5-inch vertical jump was the best for a linebacker since 2005, and his 11'2" broad jump was similarly outstanding.
This athletic profile is rare for an off-ball linebacker and could facilitate a transition similar to what Reese might consider.
If Styles surpasses Reese as an off-ball linebacker, boasts superior athleticism, and performs well in limited pass-rushing roles, he could be the better prospect overall. Should he transition to edge rusher, he might even be the best in his class.
Even if he remains off the ball, Styles appears to be the top linebacker prospect since Roquan Smith in 2018. Keeping such talent out of the top 10 seems unlikely.