Lorenzo Styles ‘A Player On The Rise’ At Nickel For The Buckeyes

Lorenzo Styles Jr. arrived at Ohio State buried on the Buckeyes’ cornerback depth chart. He was a converted wide receiver who was trying to prove that he wasn’t chasing a delusion.

Now, in his third season at Ohio State, the fifth-year senior is looking to lock down a spot as the Buckeyes’ starter at nickel back.

Last season, Jordan Hancock was a standout at nickel for the Buckeyes, showing himself to be a versatile defender in any scheme or coverage. Styles is now being tasked with that same kind of responsibility. He’s working every day to live up to those expectations, but that’s nothing new for him.

“I was trying to be always a player on the rise, continually getting better every single day,” Styles said this spring. “I’ve still got to just keep going and trying to get better. But I think if I continue to get better, continue to be a guy on the rise, my season will turn out the way I want it to.”

Being a guy on the rise should be a descriptor for everybody on this year’s Ohio State football team, because as Styles put it, “staying average is going to get you beat.”

The Buckeyes were anything but average last year with Hancock at nickel. Styles was his backup, as well as the first-team dime. He understood the job last year, but there may be a few changes this year under new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.

Whatever the changes may be, Styles is confident that he will be able to handle the job, and he’ll work with safeties coach Matt Guerrieri and cornerbacks coach Tim Walton as much as it takes to get where he needs.

“I already had an understanding from last year because, being Jordan’s backup, I was doing some of the same things. But honestly, with the new defense, I’m just trying to learn what that looks like,” Styles said. “With Coach Guerrieri, he’s a great teacher as well, always in there with Coach Walt and all of us helping us learn. And then I mean, we’re practicing, and I also do some drills after practice too just to hone my skillset.”

Ohio State recruited Lorenzo Styles, Jr. as a cornerback in high school, but he signed with Notre Dame to play receiver. Now in his third year as a defender, he has a uniquely wide view of both sides of the ball. But it’s been his grasp of looking at the game as a defensive back where he’s grown the most from last year to now.

“Yeah, it’s honestly understanding the game, understanding what my assignment is, how to win my assignment, just understanding the spacing on the field,” he said. “Continuing to still get better on that, but understanding the space on the field, where to win at and where they want to get the ball to just by the formation setup, splits, things like that.”

Styles had a good thing going at Notre Dame, but decided to make a change. His father Lorenzo Sr. played linebacker at Ohio State in the 1990s, and now he and his brother Sonny are both seniors on this year’s Buckeye football team. The reasons for the change are easy enough to see, but this was never about being easy.

Transferring to Ohio State and changing positions halfway through a career is just about the most difficult thing a player can do if his goal is playing time. It makes sense that former Buckeye safety Lathan Ransom called Styles the most confident guy in the world.

Others may consider Styles delusional, to which Styles would agree — but only to a point.

“When I came here, I was seventh on the depth chart,” he said. “I was nowhere where I needed to be at, but I always knew you’ve got to have that confidence to be able to play DB here at a high level. I think it’s going to show. I’m excited to go out here and ball this year. 

“You’ve got to be a little delusional. You’ve got to be a little delusional coming into such a competitive place. I came here playing receiver, and I think I just want to show my boy Lathan that I wasn’t delusional, so I’m going to put it all together this year.”

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