LB Alex “Sonny” Styles (Official Thread)

[Buckeneye]

Styles officially in the LB room. JL got himself a beast! 6’4”, 235

It'll be interesting to watch because of the roles S2 might fill both off ball and potentially as a 2pt edge.

I hope he carves out a role where he's most effective early and then is given coaching focus to perfect his craft. I mentioned Micah Parsons in an above post, but there aren't many of those types floating around. Last I could think of would be Khalil Mack when he was in Oakland and maybe some of the earliest days of Von Miller in Denver.

 

[billmac91]

I'm never a fan of reclassification where a kid skips a grade, essentially. He's an absolute freak athlete but he gave away a year of development. He'll be solid this year, but there's a huge difference in 1 year of development from 18 to 19, 19 to 20, etc.

 

[ShowMeBuck]

I'm never a fan of reclassification where a kid skips a grade, essentially. He's an absolute freak athlete but he gave away a year of development. He'll be solid this year, but there's a huge difference in 1 year of development from 18 to 19, 19 to 20, etc.

I don’t view it that way at all.

If he didn’t reclassify there is a greater chance he leaves in 3 years instead of 4 meaning this: where is he going to develop the best as a 17 year old, at his HS or at tOSU?

It’s an easy decision to me.

I stead of focusing on his last year in college, focus instead on his first year (or last year of HS)

 

[billmac91]

I don’t view it that way at all.

If he didn’t reclassify there is a greater chance he leaves in 3 years instead of 4 meaning this: where is he going to develop the best as a 17 year old, at his HS or at tOSU?

It’s an easy decision to me.

I stead of focusing on his last year in college, focus instead on his first year (or last year of HS)

But he essentially missed a year of development.......his goal, and I dont fault him, is to get to the NFL as soon as possible unless he gets a massive NIL deal. That said, if he stuck around for his senior year of HS, he'd have grown into his natural position.

I want to be clear, Sonny reclassifying was a decision for him and his family.....I respect it. From a football perspective, it did not help OSU. Maybe it helped Sonny, but even that is debatable.

It's a side convo, but it's amazing how many True Freshman are entering this 2024 class, and are older than Sonny right now. It's wild.

 

[billmac91]

But he essentially missed a year of development.......his goal, and I dont fault him, is to get to the NFL as soon as possible unless he gets a massive NIL deal. That said, if he stuck around for his senior year of HS, he'd have grown into his natural position.

I want to be clear, Sonny reclassifying was a decision for him and his family.....I respect it. From a football perspective, it did not help OSU. Maybe it helped Sonny, but even that is debatable.

It's a side convo, but it's amazing how many True Freshman are entering this 2024 class, and are older than Sonny right now. It's wild.

I'm gonna sneak this in there just fir fun.....but many 4* recruits in 2024 class are actually 19. Kids held back so they can take advantage of extra year of development. I just wish people had more understanding of how these things work....

 

[Zippercat]

I’m not seeing it as he lost a year at all. What’s almost always one of the most difficult tasks for young LB’s to learn? I’d say one on one pass defense, such as on a TE or RB. Playing at S might give him a big bunch of experience at that,which he can now use at LB.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

I'm never a fan of reclassification where a kid skips a grade, essentially. He's an absolute freak athlete but he gave away a year of development. He'll be solid this year, but there's a huge difference in 1 year of development from 18 to 19, 19 to 20, etc.

Totally agreed.

Just like Quinn he should’ve stayed in school that extra year. Much like Quinn it might end up with Sonny coming back for year 4 anyways.

 

[pnuts34]

 

[ScriptOhio]

Comfort is building for Sonny Styles in his move to linebacker​

If you didn’t see it coming, you should have. Sonny Styles’ move to linebacker was one of the more predictable offseason changes for Ohio State.

When he reclassified to the 2022 class, giving up his senior year at Pickerington Central High School to arrive as a Buckeye early, Styles was already a 6-foot-4, 215-pound safety. He remained at the position in the first two years of his Scarlet and Gray career but knew there would come a day when he would line up closer to the line of scrimmage because it is a more natural fit.

“I mean, there was already a little talk about playing some linebacker before the season even ended,” Styles said last week. “I was already kind of like — I wasn't really learning it. No one was teaching me, but I was getting to know linebacker a little bit just because I knew that I would probably play linebacker at some point.”
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[ScriptOhio]

Sonny Styles is in line for a huge season after moving to linebacker

After spending his for two years as a Buckeye at safety, now is the perfect time for Styles to move to linebacker

www.landgrantholyland.com

Sonny Styles is in line for a huge season after moving to linebacker​

After spending his for two years as a Buckeye at safety, now is the perfect time for Styles to move to linebacker

Growing up in Pickerington and being the son of a former Buckeye, Sonny Styles was on the radar of Ohio State fans for quite some time before committing to the school, choosing the Buckeyes over schools like Clemson, Florida, and Notre Dame. Not only was Styles a five-star football recruit in high school, but he was also an outstanding basketball player, leading to some dreaming of Styles playing for the Ohio State basketball team after football season ended.

Originally Styles was a part of Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class, but he reclassified and graduated after his junior season, allowing him to move into the 2022 recruiting class of the Buckeyes. Not only did Styles enroll in classes at Ohio State in June 2022, he played most of his freshman season as a 17-year-old since he didn’t turn 18 until November. Styles appeared in 12 games as a freshman, recording nine tackles, with one of those stops being behind the line of scrimmage.

Heading into the 2023 season, Styles was the nickel safety in Jim Knowles’ defense but was forced to strong safety when starter Lathan Ransom was injured. While Styles finished with 53 tackles, including career-high games of seven tackles against Rutgers and Michigan, the writing has been on the wall for a while that the future for Styles is at linebacker because of his size. The move likely would have happened earlier but with Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers at linebacker over the last few years, Knowles had to find any way he could to get Styles on the field because of his tremendous physical abilities.

Now with Eichenberg and Chambers having graduated, this is the perfect time for Styles to move to linebacker ahead of his junior season. Returning starter Cody Simon is slated to occupy one of the linebacker spots in Knowles’ 4-2-5 defense, while Styles and C.J. Hicks are “neck-and-neck” for the other starting spot according to Knowles. Styles does have a bit of an edge because he has been on the field a lot more in his career than Hicks, who has struggled to live up to the hype that surrounded him coming out of high school.

What will also be a huge benefit to Styles as he moves to linebacker is he has one of the best linebackers to ever wear the scarlet and gray coaching him. After spending last season as a graduate assistant on the coaching staff, James Laurinaitis was named Ohio State’s linebackers coach during the offseason. Not only will the knowledge Laurinaitis has for playing linebacker be immeasurable for Styles’ transition to the position, but the infectious energy and heart Laurinaitis played with, and now coaches with will drive Styles to reach his full potential and beyond.
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[brodybuck21]

 

[ScriptOhio]

Sonny Styles Named Ohio State’s Starting Will Linebacker

Sonny Styles will be Ohio State’s starting Will linebacker after beating out C.J. Hicks for the job in a preseason competition.

www.elevenwarriors.com

Sonny Styles Named Ohio State’s Starting Will Linebacker​

Ohio State’s defensive starting lineup is officially set.

The only opening in the defensive starting lineup was filled on Tuesday when Ryan Day announced Sonny Styles will be the Buckeyes’ first-team Will linebacker for the team’s season opener against Akron on Saturday.

Styles beat out fellow junior C.J. Hicks in a preseason competition for the job.

After starting 12 games at safety last season, Styles had to earn his way back into this year’s starting lineup following an offseason position change. He did so by making a smooth transition to his new position, showing his coaches he’s ready to be a full-time linebacker for the Buckeyes despite spending his first two years at Ohio State in the secondary.

“Sonny has really stepped up and played well,” Day said last week. “He's made this transition from safety to linebacker very well. I think he did a nice job in the spring, but you can definitely see, as he went into the summer (that Sonny is) bigger, stronger, being more comfortable closer to the line of scrimmage.

“It's different when you're closer to the line of scrimmage. He's doing a better job getting his hands on offensive linemen and getting off of blocks. I think he understands the communication. The linebackers always have to be involved in the front, they've got to be involved and fit into the back end. He's doing that. I think he's looking forward to playing in a game and getting an idea of what it all looks like, but I can tell you in practice, he's playing fast, he's playing violent, and I think he does a nice job of taking the meeting to the field, being very intentional about his work, but playing really hard.”
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[brodybuck21]

 

[brodybuck21]

SOMETIMES SONNY IN COLUMBUS. I have moderate concern over the defense’s slow starts. I have considerable concern over Sonny Styles’ development (or lack thereof) at linebacker.

A top-10 overall prospect in the 2022 class, Styles made 10 appearances as a 17-year-old freshman. In 2023, Styles started at safety in all 13 games, collecting 53 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one pass breakup. But after making a move from safety to linebacker this season, Styles has looked… lost?

I don’t know. It’s weird.

A 6-foot-4, 235-pound athlete (emphasis on the word athlete), I thought Styles’ transition would be smooth. However, that hasn’t been the case through four games. Styles leads Ohio State with 23 tackles, but he has had issues filling gaps and locating ballcarriers in the run game. He’s also been a step late in the passing game. Jack Velling proved the latter point on Saturday when he beat Styles on a slant route and gained 26 yards before Hancock knocked the ball loose.

I believe Styles has earned patience from Ohio State’s coaches and fans, but that patience could continue to wear thin as the Buckeyes face more formidable foes like Iowa, Oregon and Nebraska over the next four weeks. Iowa, in particular, has one of the nation’s best rushing offenses (No. 10 in yards per game and No. 6 in yards per carry), so we will soon learn if Styles can take the next step in his development when the Hawkeyes visit Columbus this weekend.

Skull Session: Ohio State’s Defense Makes “Solid In-Game Adjustments” Against Michigan State and Jeremiah Smith Shares a Brother-Like Bond with Emeka Egbuka

Ohio State's defense made "solid in-game adjustments" against Michigan State, and Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka share a brother-like bond.

www.elevenwarriors.com

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

SOMETIMES SONNY IN COLUMBUS. I have moderate concern over the defense’s slow starts. I have considerable concern over Sonny Styles’ development (or lack thereof) at linebacker.

A top-10 overall prospect in the 2022 class, Styles made 10 appearances as a 17-year-old freshman. In 2023, Styles started at safety in all 13 games, collecting 53 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one pass breakup. But after making a move from safety to linebacker this season, Styles has looked… lost?

I don’t know. It’s weird.

A 6-foot-4, 235-pound athlete (emphasis on the word athlete), I thought Styles’ transition would be smooth. However, that hasn’t been the case through four games. Styles leads Ohio State with 23 tackles, but he has had issues filling gaps and locating ballcarriers in the run game. He’s also been a step late in the passing game. Jack Velling proved the latter point on Saturday when he beat Styles on a slant route and gained 26 yards before Hancock knocked the ball loose.

I believe Styles has earned patience from Ohio State’s coaches and fans, but that patience could continue to wear thin as the Buckeyes face more formidable foes like Iowa, Oregon and Nebraska over the next four weeks. Iowa, in particular, has one of the nation’s best rushing offenses (No. 10 in yards per game and No. 6 in yards per carry), so we will soon learn if Styles can take the next step in his development when the Hawkeyes visit Columbus this weekend.

Skull Session: Ohio State’s Defense Makes “Solid In-Game Adjustments” Against Michigan State and Jeremiah Smith Shares a Brother-Like Bond with Emeka Egbuka

Ohio State's defense made "solid in-game adjustments" against Michigan State, and Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka share a brother-like bond.

www.elevenwarriors.com

Sonny is the poster child for the slow starts I posted about in the stats thread. Looks very flat footed early in games.