One of the biggest winners at the NFL Combine was former Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. Already viewed as a prospect to watch, Styles lived up to the hype, impressing many in the 40-yard dash and the jumping drills. However, fans and analysts weren’t the only ones impressed. His performance also caught the attention of his former defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia, who later explained what could be the real reason behind Styles’ standout showing.

Speaking on Good Morning Football, Patricia revealed that it was more than just the winning mindset and culture at Ohio State that pushed Styles to give everything during the drills. It was the desire to be the best even among his own teammates. All three Ohio State stars, Sonny Styles, Lorenzo Styles, and Arvell Reese, delivered strong performances at the NFL Combine.

Most assumed Styles simply showed up ready to cement his draft stock, motivated by scouts, cameras, and the weight of expectations. But Patricia’s courtside view told a different story. It wasn’t the spotlight that flipped the switch. It was Arvell Reese’s name echoing through the stadium first. That’s when the friendly mood shifted and Sonny Styles apparently decided he would give it his all to outshine his fellow Buckeye.

“I’m just proud of all of our guys. Obviously, we talked about Zo [Lorenzo] running the 4.27 that he ran.” Patricia said on the show. “I think the unique thing about the Buckeyes that were there, and this was really funny to sit in the stands, you know. Sonny and Arvell with the linebacker group, they were running. Arvell actually went first.”

“He ran, and he ran really fast, and the crowd got excited. And I look at Sonny, who’s about five [guys] behind him in line, and Sonny’s face changes. You know, it goes to this serious look, and I go, ‘OK, Sonny’s about to run.’ And Sonny gets up, and he runs his 40, you know, blows the door off of it,” Patricia added.

Matt Patricia actively cultivated this fierce internal rivalry as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator. He knew Styles’s ultimate test wasn’t the stopwatch, but refusing to be outdone by the teammates he battled alongside every day in Columbus.

The brotherly competition clearly helped. Sonny Styles ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, posted a 43.5-inch vertical jump, and recorded an 11-foot-2 broad jump. He also recorded the best vertical jump by a linebacker since 2005. And that’s not to mention the fact that he out-jumped the rest of the 2026 linebacker group by 3.5 inches. He also finished at the top in the 40-yard dash, tied with Reese at 4.46 seconds, and his 10-yard split also ranked among the best at his position.

His brother Lorenzo also kept up on the performance, running an impressive 4.27-second 40-yard dash and a 39-inch vertical jump. So, the Combine also proved to be a big moment for the Styles family.

Considering Sonny’s numbers, calling his Combine performance impressive might even be an understatement. In many ways, it also showed that his success at Ohio State was not just about the system, but the player himself. His resume at Ohio State includes a national championship, First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten honors, and the prestigious Block “O” award.

That competitive drive, which Patricia witnessed at the Combine, was the same engine that powered Styles to a decorated career at Ohio State, where he racked up 245 tackles and nine sacks. 83 of those tackles came last season, highlighting how impactful he was in Columbus. However, those statistics are not the only reason he generated so much attention ahead of the NFL Combine. Most of it comes from his playing style and defensive awareness.

Styles uses his fluid movement on the field to cover tight ends and running backs in zone coverage. Combined with his versatility and athleticism, he offers a blend of agility and strength in a defensive setup. That on-field versatility is a product of the same competitive environment Patricia fostered, where players had to be adaptable to stand out.

As for Patricia, it was a proud moment. With strong performances at the Combine, both Styles brothers and Reese have now established themselves as names to watch in the upcoming NFL Draft.

As Matt Patricia stands impressed, Sonny’s NFL Draft projection takes a massive leap

Breaking records often brings major rewards, and Sonny Styles is now seeing that firsthand. After his standout performance at the NFL Combine, many projections now place him among the top five picks in the draft. Several analysts believe the New York Giants could even select Styles with their number 5 pick.

USA Today analyst Nate Davis suggested that Jim Harbaugh’s team could be a strong fit for Styles if they decide to pursue the linebacker.

“New Giants coach John Harbaugh is certainly accustomed to having an athletic and cerebral monster orchestrating that side of the ball,” Davis wrote.

Harbaugh himself has had the benefit of having elite linebackers anchor his defense. Over 17 seasons in Baltimore, he coached Hall of Famer Ray Lewis and helped develop C.J. Mosley into a Pro Bowler.

“The inside linebacker isn’t always considered a value position, but you can’t stop the run without an inside linebacker making tackles in the middle,” he said at the combine. “You can’t do it.”

The recently fired Baltimore Ravens head coach has now found a new home with the New York Giants. As expected, Jim Harbaugh will probably try to build a team that fits his football philosophy: tough, disciplined, and versatile. Adding Sonny Styles would be a perfect fit, as many analysts believe.