Styles Brothers and David Bailey Steal the Show at NFL Combine 2026
The 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis has already produced some of the most jaw-dropping individual performances in recent memory. From a linebacker defying gravitational logic to a safety clocking historic speed, the early days at Lucas Oil Stadium have been nothing short of electric — and one family name keeps coming up.
Sonny Styles Rewrites the NFL Combine Record Book
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles posted a 43.5-inch vertical jump at the 2026 NFL Combine — the highest mark by any player 6-foot-4 or taller and any player weighing 240 or more pounds at the event since at least 2003.
His vertical cleared the mark Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson posted at the 2007 combine, when the 6-foot-5, 239-pound receiver leaped 42.5 inches. It also topped Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori's 43-inch jump, which led the entire 2025 combine.
Sonny Styles ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds and recorded a broad jump of 11 feet 2 inches, the longest of any player on Thursday. He is the only player to run a sub-4.5 40, post a 40-plus-inch vertical, and record an 11-plus-foot broad jump at 230 or more pounds since 2003, per NFL Research.
Lorenzo Styles Jr. Delivers Historic 40-Yard Dash at the NFL Combine
One day after Sonny's dominant performance, Ohio State safety Lorenzo Styles Jr. made his own mark by running an official time of 4.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash — the fastest time by a combine safety since at least 2003.
Lorenzo's 4.27 was the fastest time of any player at the 2026 NFL Combine so far. Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. paced the cornerback group with a 4.32-second run. Lorenzo also posted a 39-inch vertical, landing him fourth-best among participating safeties.
Lorenzo came to Indianapolis as a possible Day 3 selection in a deep safety class. His blazing 40 time could move the needle and make a difference in the later rounds of the draft for the Pickerington, Ohio, native.
The Lorenzo Styles Family Legacy Runs Deep
Lorenzo and Sonny's football roots trace back to their father, Lorenzo Styles Sr., who played for the Buckeyes from 1992 to 1994 and eventually won Super Bowl XXXIV with the then-St. Louis Rams.
The Styles brothers' mother, Laverna, was interviewed by NFL Network during Friday's workouts. She told the broadcast: "My husband has worked with these boys since they were like 4 or 5 years old."
Lorenzo began his college career as a wide receiver at Notre Dame, catching 54 passes over two seasons before transferring to Ohio State and converting to defensive back. In three seasons with the Buckeyes, he logged 46 tackles and seven passes defended.
David Bailey Makes a Top-5 Case at the 2026 NFL Combine
Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, projected as a top-10 pick, ran a 4.50-second 40 with a 1.62-second 10-yard split, a 35-inch vertical, and a 10-foot-9 broad jump — the fastest 40 of any defensive lineman in his group.
His explosiveness during bag drills reinforced a draft profile that some evaluators now place as high as second overall. Bailey graduated from Stanford in three years before transferring to Texas Tech, where he tied for the FBS lead with 14.5 sacks in his final college season.
Bailey told reporters he had already met with the Jets and Cardinals, who hold the second and third overall picks. He declined to comment on his specific draft slotting, taking the buzz surrounding him in stride heading into the rest of combine week.
Other NFL Combine 2026 Standouts Worth Watching
Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese, ranked third in CBS Sports' draft analyst Mike Renner's overall prospect rankings, performed like a bona fide top-five pick alongside Sonny Styles and David Bailey during the defensive workouts.
Pittsburgh linebacker Kyle Louis ranked among the top five linebackers in the 40, the 10-yard split, the vertical, and the broad jump. Considered undersized for traditional NFL linebacker standards, Louis offers flexibility to play box safety or big nickel at the next level.
What's Next at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis
The main event has arrived Saturday, with quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs taking the field for workouts starting at 1 p.m. ET. Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, expected to be the first running back selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, ran a 4.36-second 40 on his second attempt.
Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who carries measurables similar to Josh Allen and Andrew Luck according to NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah, is widely expected to go first overall to the Raiders on April 23 when the draft kicks off in Pittsburgh.
