LB Alex “Sonny” Styles (National Champion)

[Buckeye doc]

^^ Yes. They absolutely positively have to have this kid on the field. I cant believe how young he still is. He should have to stay for 4 years since he started so early .

 

[ShowMeBuck]

 

[Buckeye86]

Practice Observations: Sonny Styles and Ja’Had Carter Rep As Starting Safeties, Zen Michalski Leads Order at Right Tackle on First Day of Camp

Sonny Styles and Ja’Had Carter practice as first-team safeties, Zen Michalski reps as the top right tackle and more observations from Ohio State’s first practice of preseason camp.

www.elevenwarriors.com

Styles and Carter spent nearly the entire practice repping as first-team safeties alongside returning starter Lathan Ransom. In a notable change from the spring, Carter worked primarily as a deep safety alongside Ransom while Styles frequently lined up as the nickel safety.

Knowles said after practice. “And then Sonny is that guy that we are continually trying to find ways to get him on the field, to let him be a factor in the game. So I plan on him being out there a lot.”

At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Styles fits the more traditional mold of a strong safety or a linebacker than he does a nickel safety, and indications this spring were that the Buckeyes planned to use Styles primarily in a hybrid linebacker/safety role. But Knowles said Thursday that he’s comfortable with Styles covering slot receivers.

“Don't assume anything with Sonny,” Knowles said when asked about the assumption that Styles would play strong safety rather than nickel. “He's extremely talented and he can do it all.”

 

[RB07OSU]

Practice Observations: Sonny Styles and Ja’Had Carter Rep As Starting Safeties, Zen Michalski Leads Order at Right Tackle on First Day of Camp

Sonny Styles and Ja’Had Carter practice as first-team safeties, Zen Michalski reps as the top right tackle and more observations from Ohio State’s first practice of preseason camp.

www.elevenwarriors.com

Love the comments on both Sonny and Carter, but is Proctor even factoring into the equation at safety? I know he had injury issues but when he was healthy he seemed pretty solid to me. Best players should play, I was just curious.

 

[ShowMeBuck]

Great coaches adapt to their players abilities and scheme to have the most elite talent being used in the best ways

And then let them run

 

[Herb Kirkstreit]

Love the comments on both Sonny and Carter, but is Proctor even factoring into the equation at safety? I know he had injury issues but when he was healthy he seemed pretty solid to me. Best players should play, I was just curious.

Proctor will be too busy administering the exams.

 

[Gunlife]

Love the comments on both Sonny and Carter, but is Proctor even factoring into the equation at safety? I know he had injury issues but when he was healthy he seemed pretty solid to me. Best players should play, I was just curious.

That injury Protor had was so severe that I am so impressed he made it back. Must have worked his ass off. But at the same time he will probably never be 100% agian and I assume this is why he is no longer one of the "best" options we have. Hopefully he can really contribute on the sidelines and locker room.

 

[RB07OSU]

That injury Protor had was so severe that I am so impressed he made it back. Must have worked his ass off. But at the same time he will probably never be 100% agian and I assume this is why he is no longer one of the "best" options we have. Hopefully he can really contribute on the sidelines and locker room.

I figured it was injury related, thanks for confirming. Makes sense why he isn't being mentioned in the starting rotation, hope he can factor in some just with the work he has put in to return. The way the coaches talk about Styles though, he may have had a spot locked down regardless...going to be interesting seeing a safety at his size roam center field.

 

[Gunlife]

I figured it was injury related, thanks for confirming. Makes sense why he isn't being mentioned in the starting rotation, hope he can factor in some just with the work he has put in to return. The way the coaches talk about Styles though, he may have had a spot locked down regardless...going to be interesting seeing a safety at his size roam center field.

I can't confirm the injury is the reason. But it looked similar to Alex smith's or the notorious Prothro leg injuries.

Dude is a fucking warrior for getting back on that field.

 

[brodybuck21]

VERSATILITY, POTENTIAL, RECRUITING CLASS AND STATE AFFILIATION TIE C.J. HICKS AND SONNY STYLES TOGETHER​

Though it's early in fall camp and of course we haven't heard from all the position groups yet, the defensive staff sure seems high on a pair of Ohio kids that headlined the 2022 class in Styles and Hicks.

Hailing from the Buckeye State is just one of the many similarities between the two.

Styles, a Pickerington product, and Hicks, a Dayton kid, both entered the program as five-star recruits. Hicks was the No. 7 overall player in 247Sports’ composite rankings while Styles slotted 12th. Both were ranked as the No. 1 prospect at their respective positions.

The pair entered the program as 215-pounders and both now clock in at 230 pounds.

Last year, both primarily saw action on kickoff and/or kickoff return teams while biding their time for defensive run, though Styles did log 67 defensive snaps compared to zero for Hicks.

Looking forward to this season, the optimism surrounding the duo's talent and versatility indicates they'll have a chance to carve out more meaningful roles, Styles in particular.

After reclassifying into the 2022 class, Styles steadily impressed the staff with his versatility, culminating in 12 snaps in the Peach Bowl loss to Georgia after previously only seeing double-digit snaps in early season blowouts against Toledo (11) and Michigan State (12).

The 2022 experience helped him launch into the 2023 season with a strong spring camp, and now he's getting first-team snaps in the early portion of fall camp. Maybe more notably than the first-team status itself is that it's coming in the nickel safety spot that would call for him to at times cover slot receivers. That would seem like a tall task for a 230-pounder, but Knowles didn't sound the least bit concerned earlier this week.

“Don't assume anything with Sonny,” Knowles said when asked about the assumption that Styles would play strong safety rather than nickel. “He's extremely talented and he can do it all. Sonny’s out there because that's where we want him.”

Versatility, Potential, Recruiting Class and State Affiliation Tie C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles Together

Fall camp reviews make it clear multi-talented defenders and Ohio products Sonny Styles and C.J. Hicks will play increased roles in this year's defense.

www.elevenwarriors.com

 

[pnuts34]

Ryan Turner on Sonny Styles being able to cover from the slot:

Yeah, he's a freak, Sonny is, he's crazy... he moves very well for his size. It's just – y'all gonna see during the season.

Im trying to not get ridiculously optimistic but his off season is getting into folklore territory

 

[TDunk]

Im trying to not get ridiculously optimistic but his off season is getting into folklore territory

And he came in a year early as well. (Mind blown).gif

 

[Captain Buckeye]

seriously go watch the interviews lately when people ask about sonny. The look on their faces and the expressions they give are all the same. It’s like this “oh damn you all have no idea”

 

[RB07OSU]

seriously go watch the interviews lately when people ask about sonny. The look on their faces and the expressions they give are all the same. It’s like this “oh damn you all have no idea”

That's the exact impression I'm getting, kid is going to be special.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

That's the exact impression I'm getting, kid is going to be special.

Automatically better in the backend because Ransom, Hancock and Burke are a year better. Now you add Davison and Styles?

We have difference makers now at all three levels of the defense.