Sonny Styles 'The Leader In The Clubhouse' To Start At Linebacker

Sonny Styles is one of a couple of returning starters for the Buckeyes this year who have had to compete for a starting job in fall camp.

Technically, everybody competes for a starting spot every year, but those battles are rarely in doubt.

After playing nickel and strong safety last year as a sophomore, the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder made the expected move to linebacker in the winter and has continued to progress. But this being a new position, Styles has had to battle with fellow junior CJ Hicks, as the pair of former five-star recruits compete to be the Buckeyes’ Will linebacker.

Asked about the competition following practice on Thursday, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day had some very positive things to say about Sonny Styles.

“So Sonny has really stepped up and played well,” he said. “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, he’s just bigger, stronger, being more comfortable closer to the line of scrimmage.”

Styles isn’t a stranger to the line of scrimmage, playing a quasi-Sam linebacker at times as a true freshman and also last year. But now he’s in the middle of the box, which brings the action to him much quicker and much heavier. The spring was a learning experience, but the lessons have paid off.

“It’s different when you’re closer to the line of scrimmage,” Day said. “He’s doing a better job getting his hands on offensive linemen and getting off of blocks. He’s doing a better job with his hands. 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.”

The Will linebacker spot is really the only question mark on this Ohio State defense, but it could turn into an exclamation point with the athleticism the Buckeyes possess at the position. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has spoken previously about his desire to feature this position in a more aggressive manner, which would seem to suit Styles and Hicks pretty well.

“I think he’s looking forward to playing in a game and getting an idea of what it all looks like,” Day said of Styles. “But I can tell you in practice, he’s playing fast. He’s playing violent. I think he does a nice job of taking the meeting to the field, being very intentional about his work, but playing really hard.”

These are all beaming endorsements from the Ohio State head coach, so does that mean Sonny Styles is the Buckeyes’ starting Will linebacker?

“I haven’t talked to Jim because we’ll make that final decision here over the weekend,” Day said. “But he’s certainly the leader in the clubhouse.”