INDIANAPOLIS -- Ohio State’s Sonny Styles put on a show at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, posting breathtaking numbers in the jumping events and 40-yard dash.
At 43 1/2 inches, the 6-5, 244-pound linebacker had the highest vertical jump by any player 6-4 or taller and any player weighing 240 or more pounds at the combine since at least 2003.
Styles’ broad jump of 11-foot-2 wasn’t too shabby, either. It led all combine participants on Thursday and in recent history, was only topped by Jamie Collins (11-7 in 2013), Bud Dupree (11-6 in 2015) and Willie Gay Jr. (11-4 in 2020) among linebackers.
Styles ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds, which tied his Buckeyes teammate Arvell Reese for the fastest time of all the defensive linemen and linebackers who participated on Thursday.
Styles is the only player to run a sub-4.5 40-yard dash with a vertical of 40+ inches and a broad jump of 11+ feet at 230 or more pounds since 2003, per NFL Research.
The No. 5-ranked player on NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s latest top 50 prospects list, Styles compares favorably as a player to the 49ers’ Fred Warner -- and even talked about the comparison on Wednesday.
A comparison to Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton caught the attention of Baltimore's All-Pro on Thursday night.
In 14 starts for the Buckeyes last season, Styles had 82 tackles (6.5 for losses), one sack and one forced fumble in 14 starts. His father, Lorenzo Styles Sr., played six NFL seasons and was part of the Rams’ Super Bowl XXXIV-winning team.
Styles entered the week having earned buzz as a potential top-10 pick. The way his combine showing went Thursday night, that might be a lock come April.