Buckeye Linebacker Sonny Styles Returning For Senior Season

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles has announced that he will put the NFL on hold for one more year and return to OSU for his senior season.

The Buckeye junior made his announcement via social media.

“This was a dream season,” he wrote. “Here in Columbus, my teammates, coaches, and training staff accomplished exactly what we said we would. It’s an honor to play for the Ohio State. I’m not done yet. I’m here to stay. Let’s run it back.”

Styles finished second on the team with 100 tackles and third with 10.5 tackles for loss this year. His 6.0 sacks were good for fourth on the team. Styles also broke up five passes and forced a fumble.

Styles skipped his senior year of high school in order to enroll early at Ohio State, which makes him a relatively young junior. Returning for his senior season makes sense considering that this was his first full year at linebacker.

As a sophomore in 2023, Styles played nickel back, safety, and Sam linebacker, floating from spot to spot as needed. He finished with 53 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble. This past spring, however, he opened at Will linebacker and eventually won the job. Styles even got a start at middle linebacker when senior starter Cody Simon missed the season opener against Akron.

The Buckeyes are losing all four starters on the defensive line. They are also losing Simon, starting nickel back Jordan Hancock, starting cornerback Denzel Burke, and starting strong safety Lathan Ransom. Currently, Styles, sophomore safety Caleb Downs, and junior cornerback Davison Igbinosuns are the only returning starters, though Igbinosun still has yet to make his decision known.

Regardless of who else returns, Styles will give the linebacker room some much-needed experience in 2025, just as Cody Simon did in 2024.

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