NFL Combine 2026: Who is Sonny Styles? The linebacker turning heads with blazing speed and elite jumps

The buzz around Sonny Styles grew louder inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Linebackers, defensive linemen and edge rushers opened on-field workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine, but by the end of the night, one performance stood above the rest. Styles did not just test well. He changed the conversation.For those tracking Sonny Styles’ NFL Combine outing, this was the type of showing that reshapes draft boards overnight. At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, the former Ohio State defender already had scouts intrigued. What followed on Thursday backed up every bit of that intrigue with numbers that demand attention.

Elite speed and a jaw-dropping vertical jump push Sonny Styles into top-tier draft talk

Sonny Styles, the former linebacker from the Ohio State Buckeyes, clocked a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, tying for the fastest among linebackers and edging TCU’s Kaleb Elarms-Orr by 0.01 seconds based on official results released that evening. Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. came next at 4.51. Only 12 of the 28 linebackers chose to run, which made Styles’ decision to compete even more significant. He did not wait for a pro day. He answered questions on the biggest stage.Then came the jumps, and that is where the night turned from impressive to eye-opening. Styles recorded a 43.5-inch vertical jump, the best among LBs and one of the top marks overall at the 2026 Combine. Elarms-Orr and Iowa’s Karson Sharar reached 40 inches, but Styles cleared them comfortably. His broad jump measured 11 feet 2 inches, or 134 inches, topping Pittsburgh’s Kyle Louis, who posted 10 feet 9 inches.Those testing marks tell a clear story. A 4.46 at 244 pounds signals a rare range for an off-ball linebacker. The vertical jump reflects lower-body explosion that shows up when closing gaps or elevating in coverage. The broad jump confirms balance and drive. During the February 26 NFL Network broadcast, analysts highlighted how uncommon it is to see that blend of size, length, and burst in one prospect.Styles built his reputation at Ohio State as a versatile defender who could cover space like a safety while holding up in the box. On Thursday in Indianapolis, he matched that tape with elite measurables. On his college career, he has 245 tackles, 9 sacks and 1 interception.So who is Sonny Styles? After this NFL combine performance, he is no longer just a productive college linebacker. He is a legitimate early first-round discussion, powered by blazing speed and a vertical jump that turned heads across the league.