Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese Spark Ohio State Showcase at 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
The 2026 NFL scouting combine continued its on-field portion with a standout Thursday in which sonny styles and teammate Arvell Reese led a string of eye-catching performances. For many draft prospects the combine is one of the last major chances to change NFL evaluations—prospects take part in interviews and on-field drills to convince teams, and a standout physical display can dramatically change a player's status.
Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese: 40-yard dash tie
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese, former college teammates, finished the day tied for the fastest 40-yard dash time among linebackers, edge rushers and defensive linemen, with official times listed at 4. 46 seconds. Both players also posted unofficial second-attempt times of 4. 47 seconds, an unofficial mark that was widely noted during the workout window.
sonny styles also finished near the top of the field in the vertical jump and the broad jump, showing a combination of straight-line speed and explosion that drew attention across the event.
Thursday focus: defensive linemen, linebackers and kickers
Thursday's on-field sessions centered on defensive linemen, linebackers and kickers. The published combine schedule had defensive linemen, linebackers and kickers doing on-field drills while defensive backs and tight ends completed media obligations. That Thursday on-field block was listed as part of the combine's on-field window that runs from Feb. 26 through March 1.
Other defensive standouts: names to note
- Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks
- Texas Tech edge David Bailey
- UCF edge Malachi Lawrence
- Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton
Each of those players was singled out among the day’s standout performances for their play in drills and testing. Their showings were part of a broader group of defensive prospects who put up notable numbers on Thursday.
Reactions, draft chatter and a social-media moment
Responses to the Ohio State duo’s speed were immediate on social channels and in draft chatter. A recent mock draft projection places Arvell Reese in the top five, projecting him as high as No. 4 overall. The media moment also spilled into a social-media reaction from an NFL safety, Kyle Hamilton, who criticized a broadcast’s side-by-side visual that placed his draft profile next to the profile for Sonny Styles; that exchange attracted attention during the session.
Combine timing, location and what’s next
The 2026 scouting combine spans Feb. 23 through March 2, with on-field workouts scheduled from Feb. 26 through March 1. The event’s on-field work listed Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis as the venue. The combine’s schedule continues into the weekend: tight ends and defensive backs are scheduled for Friday, quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs are scheduled for Saturday, and offensive linemen are scheduled for Sunday. Thursday’s activity, on Feb. 26, specifically grouped defensive linemen, linebackers and kickers on the field while defensive backs and tight ends handled media sessions.
Teams expected to have a particular interest in the Thursday sessions included the Washington Commanders, who were noted as especially attentive to the defensive front and linebacker workouts that day.
Outlook: immediate impact and follow-up
With sonny styles and Arvell Reese tying for the day’s fastest official 40 times and Styles placing near the top in jump metrics, both players boosted the narrative around their athletic profiles heading into pro-day and team meetings. Other defensive prospects who performed well have likewise added momentum to their evaluations. The combine remains a pivotal evaluation moment: interviews and on-field drills through the end of the on-field window could still alter draft boards before teams finalize their next steps.
Coverage and updates from the combine continue as teams and evaluators digest performance data, interview results and the broader pattern of testing across position groups. Details of workouts and player interactions remain subject to confirmation as teams complete their evaluations.
