Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Styles announced the highly anticipated news on social media on Wednesday. He could be a top-10 pick.
“Thank you [Coach Ryan Day] “You have guided me over the past four years and believed in me throughout my journey at Ohio State,” Styles wrote. “I am also extremely grateful. [defensive coordinator Matt Patricia] and [linebackers coach James Laurinaitis]. You both have had a huge impact on my development and I would not have been as successful as I have been at the linebacker position without you. “
Styles is Ohio State’s leading tackler in the class of 2025, recording 82 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 14 games for a loss. He also had a sack, an interception, three passes defensed and a forced fumble. A season ago, Styles had 100 tackles in 16 games as Ohio State won the national championship.
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He is Ohio State’s third star defensive player to declare for the 2026 draft, joining linebacker Arvell Reese and defensive back Caleb Downs. In 2025, Ohio State’s defense is allowing 9.3 points per game and 4.0 yards per play. Miami’s 24 points in the Hurricanes’ Cotton Bowl were their most all season against Ohio State, and Miami’s total included six picks.
Styles is going to the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 13 pick in Yahoo Sports’ latest mock draft, though he could go higher, especially since Oregon State quarterback Dante Moore, widely considered a top-five pick, announced Wednesday that he will return to school for the 2026 season.
Here’s what Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice and Charles McDonald had to say about Styles potentially joining the Rams at No. 13:
The Rams used the first of their two first-round picks in Styles to solidify their linebacker space. Styles has elements of speed and range in his game that the Rams can really exploit, and he’ll give them a more solid front seven than the boom-or-bust front seven they have.
Styles, a five-star recruit in the Class of 2022, is the No. 4 player in the country and the No. 2 athlete in Rivals. The top-ranked athlete in Styles’ class is Travis Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner who plays wide receiver and defensive back at Colorado.