2026 Nfl Combine: Sonny Styles electrifies and a slew of risers on Day 1

The 2026 nfl combine in Indianapolis opened with defensive linemen and linebackers on Thursday, where Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles delivered a historic workout and several other prospects posted head-turning numbers that could change draft plans before the April draft in Pittsburgh.

Nfl Combine workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium

Thursday’s first night of on-field activity at Lucas Oil Stadium featured a heavy slate of position testing: defensive linemen and linebackers led the session. The two fastest 40-yard dash times of the day were a tie at 4. 46 seconds by Sonny Styles and edge rusher Arvell Reese, the two former college teammates. Styles also finished near the top of the field in both the vertical jump and the broad jump.

Historic performance from Styles and immediate ripple effects

Sonny Styles, listed at 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds with 32 7/8-inch arms and identified as the son of former NFL linebacker Lorenzo Styles Sr., posted a rare combination of measures. He became the first player to run a sub-4. 5-second 40-yard dash while also posting a 40-plus-inch vertical and an 11-plus-foot broad jump at 230-plus pounds; that kind of all-around explosiveness could cement a top-12, even top-10, projection that many scouts had entering the week. The immediate consequence: teams with early picks will now recheck tape and measurements ahead of April’s draft in Pittsburgh, scheduled for April 23-25.

Other standouts: rushers, tackles and linebackers

Edge rusher Malachi Lawrence of UCF stood out with a 4. 52-second 40-yard dash, a 10-foot-10 broad jump and a 40-inch vertical at 253 pounds; Lawrence’s college production includes 20 sacks across four seasons at UCF. Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton, listed at 293 pounds with 31 1/8-inch arms, ran a 4. 82-second 40 and led all defensive tackles with a 36 1/2-inch vertical; Halton showed quick feet in field drills and put full strength into tackling dummies. Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks and Texas Tech edge David Bailey were also noted among the day’s top performers.

Day-1 movers with measurable breakout workouts

Several prospects delivered workouts that reshape their draft conversations. A lineman identified as Capehart measured 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds with 10 1/4-inch hands and 33 7/8-inch arms; he ran a 4. 85-second 40 and posted a 33 1/2-inch vertical, using his length to knock away dummies in drills—after a college stretch that produced 4. 5 tackles for loss over his last 23 games, Thursday’s display aimed to show he can grow into a 3‑technique penetrator. A linebacker named Elarms-Orr turned heads with a 4. 47-second 40 at 6-2 and 234 pounds and a 40-inch vertical; he is a first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection whose film shows he can play the run and whose speed could convince teams he can cover at the Sam position.

Who’s still on the field and broadcast details

On-field workouts for the week run Feb. 26 through March 1 as part of the full combine schedule that runs Feb. 23 through March 2. The week’s remaining position groups are slated as follows: tight ends and defensive backs on Friday; quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs on Saturday; and offensive linemen on Sunday. Live coverage is available on NFL Network and NFL+ with coverage beginning at 3 p. m. ET on Friday and at 1 p. m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.

Notes from the fringe and personal moments

Vanderbilt quarterback prospect Diego Pavia said he has received good advice from Johnny Manziel; Manziel was seen on the sideline with a Pavia jersey in a Vanderbilt game last season. USC wide receiver prospect and projected first-rounder Makai Lemon said it would be “pretty cool” to catch a touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers at the combine podium on Friday. The salary cap for the 2026 league year has been set, and the official franchise and tender numbers are out. Organizers say they will provide updates and news, including standout performances and roster chatter, across the week.

Workouts resume Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium with tight ends and defensive backs; the next confirmed league milestone is the April 23-25 draft in Pittsburgh and the remainder of combine testing through March 1 that will feed scouts’ final evaluations.