Heading into the Combine, Sonny Styles was expected to be selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft come April - but the Ohio State star linebacker electrified and could find himself in the top-5
20:15 ET, 26 Feb 2026Updated 20:16 ET, 26 Feb 2026
Sonny Styles enjoyed a phenomenal day at the Combine in Indianapolis
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Sonny Styles enjoyed a phenomenal day at the Combine in Indianapolis(Image: Getty Images)
Sonny Styles may have cemented his place as a top-5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft with a glittering display at the Combine.
On Thursday, defensive tackles, edge-rushers, and linebackers took to the field at Lucas Oil Stadium to test their athleticism. While David Bailey and Zane Durant impressed amongst defensive linemen, the day belonged to Styles.
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First, the Ohio State linebacker — who met with John Harbaugh and the New York Giants — wowed with the broad jump. He posted an 11’2” broad jump, which placed him tied-fourth all-time among linebackers. It was just the start of his impressive day in Indianapolis.
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Then, his vertical jump threatened to break the internet. Styles posted a 43.5” vertical, which is the best all-time score for a linebacker at the Combine.
His vertical jump was half an inch more than Seattle Seahawks standout defensive back Nick Emmanwori, and a staggering three inches more than Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf.
To put just how high Styles leapt into perspective, 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose reached a 42-inch vertical when he was dominating the league, with his enhanced explosiveness putting him among the league's elite jumpers.
But Styles eclipsed the former Chicago Bulls star. The 21-year-old is also 6’4” and weighs 243 pounds, and showcased the remarkable speeds he can hit by posting a best 40-yard dash time of 4.47 seconds with an absurd 1.51s split over 10-yards, putting the finishing touches on an all-time great linebacker showing at the Combine.
When speaking about his game on Wednesday, Styles suggested his presence in the middle as the mike — the quarterback of the unit, essentially — is where he thrives. He also highlighted his impact against the run.
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“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,” Styles told reporters. “The way I studied the game, I thought I showed physical hands on film, physical strikes.
“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.”
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Thanks to his 6’4” frame and fine speed, Styles has drawn comparisons to San Francisco 49ers superstar Fred Warner. But while he claimed he was flattered, Styles truly models himself on a Hall of Famer in 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.”
His IQ is going to have to go pretty far in the wake of the athletic display Styles showcased on Thursday.