Ohio State Buckeyes’ star defender is clearly being slept on by one NFL draft analyst
Ohio State won a National Championship last season in large part due to the adjustments made by its defense. From the moment they lost to Oregon in October, the Buckeyes’ defense was lights out. The unit will look different in 2025 after losing several key players to the NFL, along with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles […]
Ohio State won a National Championship last season in large part due to the adjustments made by its defense. From the moment they lost to Oregon in October, the Buckeyes’ defense was lights out.
The unit will look different in 2025 after losing several key players to the NFL, along with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles taking the same role at Penn State.
Fortunately for the Buckeyes, they return some experienced talent—none more intriguing than linebacker Sonny Styles, who could be in for an All-American season but is currently being overlooked.
ESPN draft analysts recently ranked their top five players at each position for the 2026 NFL Draft. While Jordan Reid listed Styles as his No. 5 linebacker, Matt Miller did not include him in his top five. Styles is poised for a breakout season in 2025 and could be an early pick next April.
Styles could have entered the 2025 NFL Draft after the National Championship run, but he chose to return to Columbus for another season and to boost his draft stock. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound linebacker transitioned from safety, and 2024 marked his first full season at the position. In 16 games, he recorded 100 tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble.
An athletic freak, Styles is better in coverage than he showed last year. He’ll be Ohio State’s top linebacker in 2025 and rarely will leave the field. He has a legitimate shot to be the best linebacker in the country.
At this point, Styles looks like a first- or second-round pick in next year’s draft. If I’m wrong, I’ll be glad to admit—but I feel confident projecting him in that range.
