Ohio State's Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese Impress at 2026 NFL Combine

Linebackers post top scores in multiple events, drawing praise from analysts

Feb. 27, 2026 at 8:51pm

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Former Ohio State linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese turned heads at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, posting impressive results in several key drills. Styles led all linebackers in the broad jump and vertical jump, while tying for the fastest 10-yard split time. Both Styles and Reese ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds, the fastest time among linebackers, edge rushers, and defensive linemen. Styles' overall performance earned him a Next Gen Stats score of 94, placing him fifth among linebacker prospects since 2003.

Why it matters

Styles and Reese's standout combine showings have generated significant buzz around their NFL draft prospects. Their athleticism and versatility have drawn praise from analysts, who believe they could be valuable additions to NFL teams looking to bolster their linebacker corps.

The details

Styles and Reese both recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.46 seconds, which led all linebackers, edge rushers, and defensive linemen at the combine. Styles also finished first among linebackers in the broad jump and vertical jump, with a 43.5-inch vertical leap that was the best for a linebacker since 2005. Reese's versatility as both an edge rusher and off-ball linebacker also impressed scouts.

  • The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine took place from February 24-27 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The players

Sonny Styles

A former linebacker at Ohio State University who impressed at the 2026 NFL Combine with his athleticism and versatility.

Arvell Reese

A former linebacker at Ohio State University who also turned heads at the 2026 NFL Combine with his strong performance.

Namdi Obiazor

A linebacker prospect from TCU who tied Sonny Styles for the fastest 10-yard split time at the combine.

Calvin Johnson

A Hall of Fame wide receiver who was known for his impressive combine performance, which some analysts compared to Sonny Styles' results.

Cameron Wake

A former linebacker from Penn State who previously held the record for the best vertical jump by a linebacker at the combine, which Sonny Styles surpassed.

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What they’re saying

“I am in full-blown crush mode with Sonny Styles. I love watching the highlights and I love what I'm hearing from teams.”

— Peter Schrager, NFL Analyst (ESPN)

“You would be doing this young man a disservice if you just put him up on the line of scrimmage. ... This is the kind of guy you don't put in one spot.”

— Louis Riddick, NFL Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

NFL teams will continue to evaluate Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese's performance at the combine as they prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.

The takeaway

Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese's standout showings at the 2026 NFL Combine have generated significant buzz around their draft prospects, with analysts praising their athleticism, versatility, and potential to be valuable additions to NFL teams' linebacker corps.