John Harbaugh is preparing for his first draft as the head coach of the New York Giants, and he met with Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles prior to the Combine
17:17 ET, 25 Feb 2026Updated 17:18 ET, 25 Feb 2026
Sonny Styles served as the mike on the Ohio State defense
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Sonny Styles served as the mike on the Ohio State defense(Image: Getty Images)
Sonny Styles heaped praise on John Harbaugh and the New York Giants ahead of taking part in the NFL Scouting Combine.
Earlier this offseason, the Giants made a significant move by hiring Harbaugh as head coach. During his time with the Baltimore Ravens, Harbaugh led the team to the playoffs 12 times in 18 seasons, winning six AFC North titles and a Super Bowl.
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He has now taken the reins of the Giants and is steadily carving the team into his own image. Harbaugh takes over an underperforming defensive unit filled with star names, and Styles could be a key addition in the upcoming NFL Draft.
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Despite having a strong defensive line led by Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence, the Giants ranked 28th in total yards allowed. Meanwhile, Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in 2025, was benched due to disciplinary reasons.
Adding a prospect of Styles’ calibre could help piece the Giants' defense together and help the unit thrive. The 21-year-old talked up his meeting with Harbaugh, hoping to come off the board when the Giants pick at No. 5.
“That meeting was awesome,” Styles, who could join college teammate Arvell Reese in New York, said. “Coach Harbaugh was great. Coach Bush was great.”
Styles then outlined how he can boost the Giants' defense, adding: “In the way I can improve the run defense, just being in the middle of— like with this past year when I was playing mike, I feel like I had a great feel for what was coming. The way I studied the game, I thought I showed physical hands on film, physical strikes.
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Sonny Styles met with Giants head coach John Harbaugh and inside linebackers coach Frank Bush at the Combine
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Sonny Styles met with Giants head coach John Harbaugh and inside linebackers coach Frank Bush at the Combine(Image: Getty Images)
“I thought I showed some sure tackling this past year for the most part, so just coming in the building, earning the trust of the guys in front of me, you've got to make sure the defensive line in front of you trusts you. Earning the trust of the guys in the room, earning the trust of the guys behind me, and then being able to command the defense, if I was called to be the mike.”
The NFL franchise that selects Styles will get a player with an NFL pedigree in his veins. His father, Lorenzo Styles, played six seasons in the league for the Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams, winning Super Bowl XXXIV with the latter.
Styles has also won, playing a key role in Ohio State’s 2024 national championship triumph. Thanks to his 6’4” frame and fine speed, Styles has drawn comparisons to San Francisco 49ers superstar Fred Warner.
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“He's a great player, one of the best linebackers in the NFL, so I don't mind the comp at all,” Styles said before praising Warner’s IQ. However, he has modeled his game after another linebacker: Luke Kuechly.
“He was so smart that people forgot he was such a great athlete, and that's kind of what I want for myself,” Styles said. “I think I'm a great athlete, but I want my football intelligence to stick out more than my athleticism.”