Sonny Styles headlines Ohio State duo at combine workout day
sonny styles and teammate Arvell Reese were the headliners on Thursday at the 2026 NFL scouting combine, tying for the fastest 40-yard dash times of the day as defensive linemen and linebackers took the field in Indianapolis.
Combine day results
With the college football season complete, the 2026 NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis offered one of the last major chances for draft prospects to make an impression on NFL teams. More than 300 prospects converged on Lucas Oil Stadium for measurements, medical evaluations, interviews and on-field drills across the week.
Sonny Styles' 40 and jumps
Sonny Styles finished among the day’s top performers. He and Arvell Reese, both Ohio State products, recorded official 40-yard dash times of 4. 46 seconds, tied for the fastest of the day among linebackers, edge rushers and defensive linemen. Styles also finished near the top of the field in the vertical jump and the broad jump. During the session, Styles matched an unofficial 4. 47 in a second attempt; that 4. 47 figure also appeared in live timing as an unofficial best for both players.
Ohio State duo and reaction
The Ohio State pairing drew strong reactions on social posts. One defensive standout from another team publicly said he had been "brutally framemogged" after a side-by-side draft-profile comparison that included Styles, posting that comment on February 27, 2026. Social updates from the workout day repeatedly noted the pair’s times and the enthusiasm for their performances; one post captured the moment with emphatic praise for Sonny Styles and for a 4. 47u showing from Arvell Reese.
Other standout prospects
Thursday produced other head-turning performances as well. Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks, Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, UCF edge Malachi Lawrence and Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton were all singled out among the day’s standouts. One mock draft projection listed Arvell Reese as a No. 4 overall pick, a slot his testing times will bolster.
Expert notes and position previews
Draft evaluators and analysts highlighted several names to watch across the combine week. Kenyon Sadiq, a tight end listed at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, drew expectations to post a vertical north of 41 inches and run the 40 in the low 4. 5-second range. Observers described Sadiq as a tight end with varying grades from teams who could rise with an explosive testing week.
Scouts noted Sonny Styles at 6-foot-4 and 243 pounds as a prospect with potential to run in the mid-to-high 4. 5s in the 40-yard dash, exceed 40 inches in the vertical, and reach near 11 feet on the broad jump; he already is viewed as a potential top-10 pick and was expected to be a showman during both testing and on-field drills. Offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, listed at 6-foot-7 and 366 pounds, was praised for surprising explosiveness, including a screen run of 11 yards against Georgia and a physical play to pick up a first down against Missouri, with evaluators noting his raw upper-body strength. Monroe Freeling, a 6-foot-7, 315-pound tackle, was identified among the best offensive-line athletes expected to work out in Indianapolis.
Schedule and logistics
The combine runs from Feb. 23 through March 2, with on-field workouts scheduled from Feb. 26 through March 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Defensive linemen, linebackers and kickers completed on-field workouts on Thursday, February 26th; defensive backs and tight ends met with media that same day. The testing schedule called for defensive linemen, linebackers and special teams to work first on Thursday at 3 p. m. ET, defensive backs and tight ends at 3 p. m. ET on Friday, quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs at 1 p. m. ET on Saturday, and offensive linemen at 1 p. m. ET on Sunday.
The workouts will continue through the weekend as prospects seek to move their stock with measurable testing, interviews and positional drills.
