Sonny Styles wows with 43.5-inch vertical at NFL combine
At the NFL scouting combine on Thursday, sonny styles turned heads with a 43. 5-inch vertical and an 11-foot, 2-inch broad jump, performances that matter as teams prepare for the draft in 56 days. The 21-year-old former safety, who reclassified in high school and followed an 83-tackle season, is projected to be selected No. 12 by the Cowboys in the latest mock drafts.
Combine numbers: vertical, broad jump and 40-yard speed
Styles produced a 43. 5-inch vertical and an 11-foot, 2-inch broad jump, the latter listed as the fourth-best all-time among linebackers at the combine since 1999. His vertical was 1. 5 inches shy of the all-time combine record. The testing also included a 4. 46-second 40-yard dash that was tied for the best time of the day with former teammate Arvell Reese, and an estimated athletic score of 92 that ranked first among all linebackers. The context also states he was the only person over 240 pounds to clear 43 feet since 2003—unclear in the provided context.
Size and comparisons to established athletes
At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, Sonny Styles drew immediate size comparisons to former Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson and was noted as bigger than DK Metcalf and Nick Emmanwori while posting a higher vertical. He posted the same 4. 46 time in the 40 as Falcons running back Bijan Robinson despite being larger, and his overall testing left evaluators impressed with his blend of length, speed and explosiveness.
High school basketball, Ohio State family lineage and brotherly showings
Styles’ athleticism traces back to Pickerington Central (Ohio), where his basketball highlight reel featured rim-shaking dunks and blocks off the glass; he also played on the same high school team as Devin Royal. He is the son of Lorenzo Styles Sr., who played for the Buckeyes from 1992 to 1994 before a six-year NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams and a Super Bowl XXXIV ring with the Rams. His older brother, Lorenzo Styles Jr., transferred from Notre Dame to Ohio State to play alongside him, ran a 4. 28-second 40 on Friday and was a former kick returner.
Televised comparisons, Kyle Hamilton and the ‘frame mogged’ moment
A televised side-by-side comparison on Thursday put Styles next to Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton and Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb; the overlay showed neither Hamilton nor Lamb kept pace with Styles’ 4. 46-second sprint. Observers noted the two players are built similarly, but Styles posted the better vertical and 40 despite being an inside linebacker and 24 pounds heavier. Hamilton joked about the comparison and called Styles "1 of 1. " The term "frame mogged"—slang for when someone with a larger or more dominant physical build makes someone else look smaller or less athletic by comparison—was used to describe the moment.
Draft positioning, Ohio State teammates and broader combine takeaways
Viewed as a likely top-15 pick, Styles’ combine showing has pushed his projection to No. 12 by the Cowboys in recent mocks. He followed an 83-tackle season at Ohio State and arrives at the draft as one of the youngest prospects after reclassifying in high school. Ohio State teammate Arvell Reese is also expected to go early—he went fourth in the latest mock draft—and safety Caleb Downs is set to draw attention on Friday, with a No. 5 projection in the same mock. Cornerback Davison Igbinosun was scheduled to work out on Friday as well.
Ravens-related notes and NFL personnel comments
Several other combine storylines intersected with the Ravens’ offseason planning. Tight ends Kenyon Sadiq and Eli Stowers impressed during their workouts, and the franchise’s history includes drafting two tight ends in the same class four times. Sonny Styles and Caleb Banks were singled out for their physical traits. Team decision-makers noted that the 2026 draft class features talented edge players who could be used to strengthen pass rushes, and General Manager Eric DeCosta said he views defensive tackle as "one of the most important positions in football. " New head coach Jesse Minter said he believes the league is driven by offensive and defensive lines; Minter and the team indicated a desire to beef up in the trenches, are not ruling out an Isaiah Likely return, and want to retain center Tyler Linderbaum before the start of the new league year. Coverage also suggested looking back on some of the top Scouting Combine performances from current players as teams finalize their evaluations.
What the weekend holds
As the combine continues into Friday, the schedule called for additional Ohio State prospects and other top defensive players to work out and further influence draft boards over the coming days. With the draft 56 days away, every measurable and workout moment will be parsed closely by teams mapping their selections.
