Sonny Styles wows with 43.5-inch vertical and historic combine showing in Indianapolis
Ohio State linebacker sonny styles delivered a headline-making performance at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, posting a 43 1/2-inch vertical and an 11-foot-2 broad jump while pairing those numbers with a 4. 46-second 40-yard dash. The display has shifted evaluations dramatically and intensified draft buzz.
Sonny Styles' combine numbers that stunned Indianapolis
At 6-5 and 244 pounds, Sonny Styles posted a vertical of 43 1/2 inches, the highest vertical by any player 6-4 or taller and by any player weighing 240 or more pounds at the combine since at least 2003. His broad jump measured 11-foot-2 and led all participants on Thursday. That broad jump, for a linebacker, is all but unprecedented in recent history: only Jamie Collins (11-7 in 2013), Bud Dupree (11-6 in 2015) and Willie Gay Jr. (11-4 in 2020) posted longer marks among linebackers in the modern era.
Styles ran the 40-yard dash in 4. 46 seconds, a time that tied his Buckeyes teammate Arvell Reese for the fastest among defensive linemen and linebackers who worked that day. The combination of a sub-4. 5 40-yard dash with a 40-plus-inch vertical and an 11-plus-foot broad jump at 230 or more pounds is unique since 2003, a statistical milestone that underscores how rare his athletic profile is.
Why sonny styles' background amplifies the measurements
Styles' athleticism is reinforced by his history as a former safety and a multi-sport high school prospect who also made waves in basketball. That background is frequently cited in evaluations as an explanation for his explosive jumping ability and positional versatility. Observers note that his profile combines pro-ready tackling instincts with the speed to rush the passer or drop into coverage on stunts.
Additional athletic metrics circulated heading into the combine include a previously noted 40-inch vertical, an 11-foot broad jump, a 675-pound squat and a top speed clocked at 23. 2 MPH. Early-career usage included time playing Nickel DB at Ohio State at 215 pounds for his first two seasons, and then a transition later in his college career that is described in the provided context as "converted to... " — unclear in the provided context.
Draft implications and player comparisons
Before the combine, Styles entered the week with buzz as a potential top-10 pick. His combine showing has the potential to make a top-10 selection more likely come April. Evaluators have placed his upside alongside high-end comparisons to Fred Warner, and he has drawn other prominent comparisons that have attracted attention from established NFL players.
That blend of size and explosion has moved some evaluations toward the Warner comparison, with teams described as being blown away by the athleticism paired with a 6-5, 244-pound frame.
College production and family football ties
In 14 starts for the Buckeyes last season, Styles recorded 82 tackles, including 6. 5 tackles for loss, along with one sack and one forced fumble across those 14 starts. His family has NFL roots: his father, Lorenzo Styles Sr., played six NFL seasons and was part of the Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV-winning team.
What comes next for Styles and the draft picture
Evaluators will now balance the eye-popping combine metrics with on-field tape, but the immediate effect is clear: the combine performance has intensified Styles' position as one of the most-talked-about prospects in the class. The timing leaves room for further measurement and debate before draft day, and the April draft remains the next concrete milestone for teams weighing his unique blend of size, production and athletic explosion.
Recent updates indicate the combine display has elevated his draft conversation; details may evolve as teams continue evaluations and as further workouts are completed.
