Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles turns heads with historic NFL Combine performance
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles solidified his status as one of the most athletic prospects in the 2026 draft class with a spectacular performance at the NFL Combine, breaking records and drawing widespread attention for his rare blend of size, speed, and explosiveness.
A record-setting display
At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, Styles put on a show in Indianapolis. His 43.5-inch vertical jump set an all-time record for linebackers, while his 11-foot-2 broad jump ranked tied for fourth best in the position’s history. The former Buckeyes standout didn’t stop there—he blazed an official 4.46-second 40-yard dash, tying for the fastest time among linebackers this year with college teammate Arvell Reese.
By the numbers
Styles’ Combine performance wasn’t just impressive—it was historic. His Relative Athletic Score (RAS), a metric comparing prospects to historical positional data, landed at a perfect 10.0. That score places him first all-time among 3,215 linebackers evaluated since the system’s introduction, highlighting just how unique his athletic profile is.
What it means for his draft stock
Already viewed as a likely early-round selection after a productive college career that included 245 tackles, nine sacks, and three forced fumbles, Styles’ Combine showing likely boosted his stock even further. Teams valuing versatility and modern defensive skillsets will see his testing numbers as evidence of a player capable of matching up in space, blitzing off the edge, or dropping into coverage. While on-field drills and interviews remain important, Styles left no doubt about his elite physical tools—making him one of the most intriguing defensive prospects heading into April’s draft.
