The linebacker has a knack for putting himself in position to make game-changing plays, and he projects to do that often in 2025.
From now until preseason camp starts on July 31, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the players who will shine this season. Whether they are superstars, diamonds in the rough, or journeymen, these are the Buckeyes who will define the 2025-26 season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Player of the Year” articles here.
The purpose of this column isn’t to suggest Sonny Styles will win the Heisman Trophy, the Big Ten Player of the Year, or even the best player on Ohio State. I can’t entirely rule it out a month before the season begins, but it seems unlikely.
The idea here is to point out that Styles is a player who could be one of the nation’s biggest difference makers.
The senior linebacker out of Pickerington is Ohio State’s leading returning tackler, logging 100 of them during the Buckeyes’ national championship season a year ago. That was second only to former Buckeye linebacker Cody Simon, who racked up 112. Styles inherits the mantle of top tackler, posting 48 solo stops and 52 assists in 2024.
There were 46 players in college football’s top tier last season who had more tackles than Styles, but he will be relied upon more heavily in 2025. Styles recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks a year ago, coming into his own as a playmaker on the Ohio State defense. He didn’t intercept a pass, but he broke up five of them and forced a fumble and was a critical part of Ohio State’s short-yardage excellence in 2024.
I’m not the only one expecting big things from Styles in 2025. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound defensive stopper was recently named to the 2025 Big Ten Preseason Honors Team by Big Ten media voters and representatives of the Big Ten Network. He was also named a Second Team Preseason All-American by both Phil Steele and Athlon’s and his name is on the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.
Last year, Styles was named a Second-Team All-Big Ten Conference selection by the league’s coaches.
The Buckeye legacy is the son of former Buckeye Lorenzo Styles, who played for Ohio State in the early to mid 1990s. A four-star/five-star (depending on the source) athlete out of Pickerington Central, Styles chose the Buckeyes over the likes of Alabama, Texas, Penn State, and Notre Dame, joining the 2022 OSU class on Nov. 13, 2021.
The former safety moved to the Will linebacker position for 2024. Everything didn’t always look smooth, but he got a year of experience under his belt. Now, James Laurinaitis will have him ready to become perhaps the team’s biggest defensive difference maker not named Caleb Downs.
In his OSU career, Styles has compiled an impressive 162 tackles (85 solo) in 39 games. He’s logged 16 tackles for a total loss of 74 yards, defended six passes, forced two fumbles, and recovered a fumble.
With his competition of speed, length, and athleticism, Styles will be a problem for opponents this season. A new defensive line means the second and third levels of the defense will likely see more activity.
The combination of new starters and Matt Patricia stepping in as defensive coordinator for the departed Jim Knowles may lead to some growing pains early in the season, but Styles is poised for a big year.