The Ohio State linebacker posted the highest vertical by a linebacker in over two decades, and his brother Lorenzo made noise the very next day.
Sonny Styles came to Lucas Oil Stadium to answer questions. He left having raised his price.
The Ohio State linebacker, widely projected as a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, turned in one of the most complete combine performances by a player at his position in recent memory Thursday night. His 43.5-inch vertical jump was the highest recorded by an off-ball linebacker at the combine since 2003, surpassed among all linebackers in that span only by Cameron Wake’s 45.5-inch mark in 2005.
For perspective, it cleared the vertical jump Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson posted at the 2007 combine, when the 6-foot-5, 239-pound receiver leaped 42.5 inches. It also topped Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori’s 43-inch jump, which led the entire 2025 combine.
Styles checks every box scouts care about
At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, Styles clocked a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, matching the time Bijan Robinson ran at his combine. His broad jump of 11 feet 2 inches was the best among all players who worked out Thursday and the only mark above 11 feet among all defensive linemen and linebackers. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has him ranked seventh overall on his big board.
Styles played almost exclusively at middle linebacker for Ohio State last season, and his combine showing made the case that his athleticism translates well beyond that role. He pointed to versatile defenders like Emmanwori as a model for what he wants to bring to an NFL defense. The best units, he said earlier in the week, tend to carry two or three players who can operate in multiple roles.
His Ohio State teammate Arvell Reese, ranked third on Kiper’s board, also ran a 4.46-second 40, tying Styles for the best time among all players who participated Thursday. Reese, a 6-foot-4, 241-pound edge rusher and off-ball linebacker hybrid, did not perform the jumping drills but drew praise for his movement skills and fluid footwork during position work.
The next day, his brother answered the call
Lorenzo Styles Jr. had a different kind of Friday in mind.
One day after Sonny’s breakout performance, the Ohio State safety clocked a 4.27-second 40-yard dash, the fastest time by a safety at the combine since at least 2003. It is rare for a safety to lead the defensive back group in the 40, but Lorenzo did exactly that. Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. ran the top time among cornerbacks at 4.32 seconds.
Lorenzo skipped the broad jump but posted a 39-inch vertical, placing him near the top of the leaderboard among defensive backs.
He is not viewed as the same caliber of prospect as his brother, but Friday’s showing added weight to his case. Lorenzo began his college career as a wide receiver at Notre Dame, catching 54 passes over two seasons before transferring to Ohio State and converting to defensive back.
Football runs through the family. Their father, Lorenzo Styles Sr., played six NFL seasons and was part of the Rams’ Super Bowl XXXIV championship team.
Other linebackers who made their mark
Beyond the Styles brothers, several other prospects drew attention during the linebacker and defensive line workouts.
Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, projected as a top-10 pick, ran a 4.50-second 40 with a 1.62-second 10-yard split, a 35-inch vertical and a 10-foot-9 broad jump, the fastest 40 of any defensive lineman in the group. His explosiveness during bag drills reinforced a draft profile that some evaluators now place as high as second overall.
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez arrived as a relative unknown and left with people paying attention. He reached a top speed of 18.43 miles per hour during the backpedal and react drill, the fastest by any linebacker over the past four years.
Pittsburgh linebacker Kyle Louis posted numbers that ranked among the top five at his position in the 40 time, the 10-yard split, the vertical and the broad jump. At under standard NFL linebacker size, he profiles best as a box safety or big nickel, and his 24 tackles for loss, six interceptions and 10 sacks over the past two seasons gave evaluators plenty to consider before Saturday’s workouts even begin.