The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine has found its biggest star. On a day when defensive players were expected to prove their physical value, Sonny Styles, linebacker out of the Ohio State Buckeyes, delivered what many have considered a historic performance, rapidly climbing draft boards and now becoming a strong prospect heading into the 2026 Draft.
Standing 6’5″ and weighing 244 pounds, Styles stunned observers by stopping the clock in the 40-yard dash at 4.46 seconds, tying the best time of the day among linebackers and linemen. However, the moment that left scouts breathless at Lucas Oil Stadium was his 43.5-inch vertical jump, setting a new Combine record for players weighing more than 240 pounds.
This combination of explosiveness and muscle mass earned him a perfect 10.00 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), placing him as the No. 1 prospect among 3,215 linebackers evaluated from 1987 to the present, with marks that put him alongside historic athletes such as D.K. Metcalf and Saquon Barkley.
Who will select Sonny Styles? Draft projection
After displaying agility that surpasses many wide receivers and safeties in the league, analysts are now placing him inside the top 10 of the upcoming Draft, with several teams emerging as potential landing spots – but which are the most likely options?
- The New York Giants, who hold the No. 5 overall pick. Around the Combine, rumors suggest that Styles’ performance could make Bobby Okereke “expendable.”
- The New Orleans Saints are also watching closely at No. 8 overall. With contractual uncertainty surrounding Demario Davis, the Saints need a young cornerstone player.
Who is Sonny Styles?
Across four seasons, he accumulated 245 tackles, nine sacks, and one interception. His résumé includes First-Team All-American and All-Big Ten selections.
Beyond his impressive 82 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in 2025, Styles stands out for his intellectual maturity and tactical versatility. He defines himself as a complete player.
Styles is proving how critical the Combine can be in increasing a player’s value – something that college games sometimes fail to fully showcase – but which is now being reassessed as his first-round Draft stock rises rapidly.
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