Sonny Styles S Ohio State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Sonny Styles S Ohio State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Man-Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 07/01/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.48 seconds (79%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Man-Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 07/01/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.48 seconds (79%*) | |
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| Overall Rating: | 84.9 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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80% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 80.2 | |
| Tackling: |
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86% |
| Run Defense: |
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91% |
| Coverage: |
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75% |
| Zone: |
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70% |
| Man/Press: |
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78% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#82
Position rank:
#16
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| College Games: 20 College Snaps: 600 | ||
ESPN RATING: 90/100
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247 RATING: 9800/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| JL Skinner - Boise State |
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71% |
| Kitan Oladapo - Oregon State |
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67% |
| Jaylon Carlies - Missouri |
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66% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Sonny Styles, a standout safety from Ohio State, has been turning heads with his versatile skill set and impressive physical traits. The Pickerington, Ohio native made an immediate impact for the Buckeyes, playing in 25 games with 12 starts over two seasons. Standing at 6'4" and weighing 230 pounds, Styles possesses rare size for the safety position.Coming out of Pickerington Central High School as a five-star recruit, Styles lived up to the hype in Columbus. He reclassified to graduate early, joining the Buckeyes as a 17-year-old true freshman in 2022. Despite his youth, Styles quickly earned playing time, logging the second-most snaps among true freshmen that season. His sophomore campaign in 2023 saw him start 12 games at safety, racking up 53 tackles (32 solo) and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Football is in Styles' blood. His father, Lorenzo Styles Sr., played linebacker for Ohio State and enjoyed a six-year NFL career, winning a Super Bowl with the Rams. Sonny's brother, Lorenzo Jr., is also on the Buckeyes' roster. This pedigree, combined with his physical gifts and on-field production, has scouts salivating over Styles' potential at the next level.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Super athletic - Made Bruce Feldman's Freak's List at #20. He Wrote: " “Sonny is the next one,” says teammate Marvin Harrison “For one, he’s 18. Very young, but he’s really, really fast and probably just as strong as anyone in that weight room.” Styles is 6-5, 228 pounds and broad-jumps 11 feet. He vertical-jumped 39 inches this offseason and squatted 600 pounds. He also ran the 40 in the high 4.4s and hit 22 MPH on the GPS. Remember his name this fall. "
- Exceptional size and length for a defensive back, with a frame that could easily add more muscle mass
- Versatile defender capable of playing multiple positions in the secondary and potentially linebacker
- Above-average athleticism for his size, demonstrated by his 4.48 40-yard dash time (79th percentile)
- Excels in run support, showcasing a physical playing style and willingness to come downhill
- High football IQ and play recognition skills, likely influenced by his NFL lineage
- Reliable tackler with good form and strength to bring down ball carriers
- Shows potential in zone coverage, using his length and instincts to disrupt passing lanes
- Special teams experience and production, which will help him contribute immediately at the next level
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Still raw in terms of technique and positional nuances, having only played two seasons of college football
- Man-to-man coverage skills need refinement, especially when matched up against quicker slot receivers
- Can struggle to change direction quickly in space, which may limit his effectiveness as a deep safety
- Needs to improve his ability to disengage from blocks when playing closer to the line of scrimmage
- May lack a true positional fit at the next level, potentially requiring a specific scheme to maximize his talents
Scouting Report: Summary
Styles projects as a versatile chess piece in an NFL defense, capable of playing multiple roles depending on the scheme and situation. His rare combination of size, athleticism, and football instincts make him an intriguing prospect for teams looking to add flexibility to their secondary.While he may need time to develop his coverage skills fully, Styles' ability to impact the run game and contribute on special teams should earn him playing time early in his career. His potential transition to linebacker could unlock even more value, allowing him to use his athleticism and football IQ closer to the line of scrimmage.
Ultimately, Styles' success at the next level will depend on finding the right fit with a creative defensive coordinator who can maximize his unique skill set. With proper coaching and development, he has the potential to become a game-changing defender capable of matching up with tight ends, blitzing effectively, and making plays all over the field.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
How other scouting services rate Sonny Styles (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
75.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
16.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.