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Ohio State Linebacker Sonny Styles Staying for Senior Season
Sonny Styles is staying for his senior season.
The Ohio State linebacker announced Friday that he will stay in Columbus for his senior season rather than enter the 2025 NFL draft.
— sonny (@sonnystyles_) January 24, 2025
Styles’ decision to stay for his final year of eligibility is a key boon to Ohio State’s 2025 defense, which is set to lose at least eight starters including all five of its other starters in its front six. He’ll be poised to play a key leadership role on Ohio State’s defense next season alongside Caleb Downs.
In his first year as a linebacker after starting his Ohio State career at safety, Styles started all 16 of the Buckeyes’ games and recorded exactly 100 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, five pass breakups and one forced fumble.
Styles got progressively better over the course of his first season as a linebacker, playing some of his best football in the College Football Playoff as he recorded 24 tackles with four tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and two pass breakups – both in the form of big hits that separated the ball from the receiver. That said, Styles should be able to elevate his draft stock with another year of experience as he still has room to improve in all areas of his game, particularly in pass coverage.
Staying for his senior year also potentially gives Styles the opportunity to start alongside his older brother Lorenzo Styles Jr., who is projected to replace Jordan Hancock as Ohio State’s top nickel cornerback next season after backing Hancock up this past season.
Styles was one of three Ohio State juniors with NFL draft decisions to make along with running back Quinshon Judkins and cornerback Davison Igbinosun. Judkins announced Friday that he is entering the NFL draft while Igbinosun has not yet announced his decision.
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles has announced that he will be returning for his senior season with the Buckeyes. Styles, who is considered one of the top linebackers in the country, had the option to declare for the NFL draft but has decided to stay in Columbus for one more year.
Styles has been a standout player for Ohio State since he arrived on campus, earning All-American honors and leading the team in tackles for the past two seasons. His decision to return for his senior year is a big boost for the Buckeyes, who will be looking to compete for a national championship in the upcoming season.
“I love this team, this university, and this city,” Styles said in a statement. “I want to finish what we started here and bring a championship back to Ohio State. I believe we have the talent and the drive to do it, and I want to be a part of that.”
With Styles returning for his senior season, Ohio State’s defense will be in good hands. His leadership and playmaking ability will be crucial for the Buckeyes as they look to make a run at a national title in 2023.
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- Ohio State linebacker
- Sonny Styles
- College football
- Senior season
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- NCAA football
- Ohio State University
- Big Ten Conference
- College athletics
- Student-athlete
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