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LB Alex “Sonny” Styles (National Champion)

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Ohio State elite defender’s admission about his position change shows just the player he is for the Buckeyes​

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Ohio State’s 2024 team was loaded with returning talent plus the players that they went out and got in the portal.

A transfer portal haul that consisted of Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins, Will Howard, and Seth McLaughlin was huge for the Buckeyes and accomplishing their big goal.

Downs coming in and being the team’s top safety paired with great unselfishness from LB Sonny Styles was huge for the defense. Styles made the switch from safety to linebacker and it paid off big time.

“My thing was where on the defense do I fit, where I can help the team win,” Styles said in a recent sitdown interview with The Podcast. “ [It is] where I can be at my best and I felt like it was no question that being a linebacker was going to help me and help the team. So, it was a double win, there was really no convincing.”

Bringing in Downs played a part in the switch, but so is the transformation of Styles himself. The Pickerington native came in as a 6-foot-4, 215-pound safety for the Buckeyes as a five-star player in the class of 2022. Now, Styles is up to 235 pounds and has filled out his frame.

“The season got over, I saw Caleb come in, I seen the defense we had. I was like, ‘Why would I not play WILL?’.”

Styles recorded 100 tackles, six sacks, and a forced fumble in 16 games in 2024. Styles made 53 tackles and two sacks the previous season as a safety.

“I’m excited I made the move. I feel much more comfortable at linebacker than I did at safety,” Styles explained. “It’s like my abilities can flourish more at the position.”

Making the switch to James Laurinaitis’ unit has helped Styles blossom into a terrific player. He is a prime candidate to wear the “Block O” in 2025, as well as being a team captain.
 
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Former Ohio State Football Captain Cody Simon, Two-Sport Star Makenna Webster Win Big Ten Medal of Honor

Former Ohio State football captain Cody Simon and two-sport star Makenna Webster are OSU’s Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients for the 2024-25 academic year.
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Returning Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles was honored after he was named Monday as Ohio State’s male nominee for the Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award, a new award established this year to recognize athletes who make a positive impact in their community in addition to their sport. Styles has given back to the community throughout his Ohio State career through his partnership with the Huckleberry House, which provides a shelter and other resources for at-risk and homeless youth in Central Ohio.



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“Obviously it's a prestigious award, named after a historic player, Jackie Robinson. So it means a lot just in that case to be in the same mention as him, an award named after him, and obviously his impact on not only his sport but his community as well,” Styles told Eleven Warriors after Monday night’s banquet. “So it definitely means a lot. And I take that with a chip on my shoulder and just continue to keep doing what I'm doing. And just trying to spread kindness in the world.”

 
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ScriptOhio said:
www.elevenwarriors.com

Former Ohio State Football Captain Cody Simon, Two-Sport Star Makenna Webster Win Big Ten Medal of Honor

Former Ohio State football captain Cody Simon and two-sport star Makenna Webster are OSU’s Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients for the 2024-25 academic year.
www.elevenwarriors.com www.elevenwarriors.com

Returning Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles was honored after he was named Monday as Ohio State’s male nominee for the Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award, a new award established this year to recognize athletes who make a positive impact in their community in addition to their sport. Styles has given back to the community throughout his Ohio State career through his partnership with the Huckleberry House, which provides a shelter and other resources for at-risk and homeless youth in Central Ohio.



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“Obviously it's a prestigious award, named after a historic player, Jackie Robinson. So it means a lot just in that case to be in the same mention as him, an award named after him, and obviously his impact on not only his sport but his community as well,” Styles told Eleven Warriors after Monday night’s banquet. “So it definitely means a lot. And I take that with a chip on my shoulder and just continue to keep doing what I'm doing. And just trying to spread kindness in the world.”

Click to expand...

OSU's female nominee is Lawrence Funderburke's daughter.
 
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scarletandgame.com

The leading candidate to wear the Block O jersey for Ohio State this year

This player could end up wearing the Block O jersey for the Buckeyes this season.
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The leading candidate to wear the Block O jersey for Ohio State this year​

This player could end up wearing the Block O jersey for the Buckeyes this season.

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he Ohio State football team started a tradition a few years ago where players vote on players to wear the number zero jersey. They call it the Block O jersey, and it's usually given to someone who has been in the program for at least four years. Whoever wears it is one of the team leaders.

Cody Simon donned the jersey last year. The Buckeyes respected him and how much work he'd put in over the course of his career. This year, there are a few candidates who could wear the jersey. One candidate makes the most sense of anyone, and he plays on defense.

Sonny Styles is the leader in the clubhouse to wear the Block O jersey this season for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He is a senior linebacker who has done everything he's needed to become the best player possible. He even switched positions last season, playing linebacker for the first time.

Why Sonny Styles is the leading candidate to wear the Block O jersey for Ohio State​

Styles is one of the best players on defense the Buckeyes will have this season. He wasn't able to play fast for the first half of the season because he was still learning how to play linebacker. He really came on during the College Football Playoff when he was more confident in the position.

Everyone on the Ohio State football team respects Styles, so it wouldn;t be surprising to see him get the nod to wear the Block O Jersey. Not only is a leader, but he's one of the best players on defense. That makes him the perfect player to don the jersey this year.
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brodybuck21 said:
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“I think for us, it's just taking this year and attacking it and proving all the doubters wrong, and not living off last year's national championship hype … We've got something to prove every day and have a chip on our shoulder.”– Sonny Styles on Ohio State’s mentality entering the 2025 season
  • Styles said he feels “super confident” now that he has a full year of playing linebacker under his belt. “Year two of the position, I'm just getting more and more comfortable, confident in what I'm doing.”
  • Styles said Caleb Downs, Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, Austin Siereveld and Carnell Tate are among the Buckeyes who have stepped up as leaders this offseason.
  • Like Smith, Styles said Jackson has looked like a future first-round pick this offseason.
  • On Arvell Reese: “He’s probably the most athletic linebacker in the country.”
  • Asked who would play Ryan Day in a movie, Styles said walk-on long snapper Collin Johnson. “The kid’s hilarious. He sounds just like Coach Day. He imitates some of the things he says in meetings, he sounds just like him.”
  • Styles said he thinks the Big Ten is the best conference in college football.
  • Asked about Ohio State’s defensive tackles, Styles described Kayden McDonald as “a monster” and “one of the best nose tackles in the country.” He also said Eddrick Houston is “going to be a great player,” Will Smith Jr. has taken a big jump this offseason and Tywone Malone is “another guy who could be a baller.”
 
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