Developed Here: Sonny Styles Drafted No. 7 Overall by Washington Commanders

PITTSBURGH – Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles was selected seventh overall in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night by the Washington Commanders. Overall, the Buckeyes now have 98 first-round selections in program history, the most all time, and 19 first-round picks in the Ryan Day era (2019-present).

With Arvell Reese taken fifth overall by the New York Giants to go along with Styles' aforementioned selection, they are the first pair of Ohio State linebackers to both be selected in the first round since A.J. Hawks (5th Overall, Green Bay Packers) and Bobby Carpenter (18th Overall, Dallas Cowboys) were taken in the 2006 NFL Draft. Additionally, it marked the first time a program has had two linebackers selected in the top 10 of the same NFL Draft.

Additionally with Carnell Tate going fourth to the Tennessee Titans as well as Reese's and Styles' selections, the Buckeyes had three Buckeyes taken in the top 10 of the NFL Draft for just the second time in program history and is the only program to accomplish this feat multiple times:

2016:

Joey Bosa, 3rd Overall, Round 1 – San Diego Chargers

Ezekiel Elliott, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Dallas Cowboys

Eli Apple, 10th Overall, Round 1 – New York Giants

2026:

Carnell Tate, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Tennessee Titans

Arvell Reese, 5th Overall, Round 1 – New York Giants

Sonny Styles, 7th Overall, Round 1 – Washington Commanders

Oklahoma is the only other program to accomplish this once as they had three picks in the top four selections during the 2010 NFL Draft.

The Buckeyes have now had 63 linebackers taken in the NFL Draft, which ranks second all-time to Penn State.

What They're Saying:

Head Coach Ryan Day:
"The Commanders are getting a rare, versatile defender with elite instincts, physicality, and true captain-level leadership. Sonny embraced everything we ask of our players – he developed, adapted, and brought relentless energy every single day. He's the kind of athlete who can change a game, but just as important, he represents the toughness and culture of our program. It was a privilege to coach someone who lived the Buckeye standard the way he did."
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL Network)
"I was talking about Sonny Styles and how he would be a perfect fit for Robert Salah because he had been around Fred Warner in San Francisco. Well, Adam Peters had been around Fred Warner too. I just didn't think there was any chance Sonny would be there for him to take and so they took him right off the board. He's got a physical presence. He's a former safety that dropped down the linebacker. You see him working downhill. He's not afraid of contact, but he can also shoot gaps and make plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage. This was a question mark here. As a former safety, you want to take guys on, he shows he has the ability to do that, and then that legit speed shows up, not only in coverage, but when you want to add him on and want to rush him. In 2024, he was very electric when they used him as a blitzer. He is a versatile chest piece for a defense."
Kurt Warner (NFL Network)
"Washington is getting a heck of a football player. What I love about Sonny Styles is his versatility. He's a guy that played all season. He's very good in the pass game. He's got tremendous instincts, tremendous length, he can play on any and every down. I think he is going to be a superstar in his league."

Commanders - Buckeyes Connection:

Washington has now drafted 20 Buckeyes, most recently selecting Chase Young in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In addition, Styles became the fifth Buckeye to be selected in the first round by the Commanders.

Sonny Styles – Washington Commanders, 1st Round (No. 7 Overall)

Sonny is a talented and terrific athlete and player who was one of the very best players in America in 2025.

Only 21 years old (November) but Sonny led this program as he played in 55 games started 41 times and was named a team co-captain as a senior.

Recipient of the 2025 team's Block "O" Award and No. 0 jersey for toughness, accountability and the highest of character, inspired by the great Bill Willis

Earned first-team All-America honors as a senior after leading the team in tackles with 82 and in solo tackles with 46. Also had 6.5 tackles-for-losses totaling 17 yards, an interception, three pass break-ups and four quarterback hurries.

Named first-team all-Big Ten Conference on both the coaches and media votes.

Set a personal best with 12 tackles vs. Indiana in the Big Ten title game.

Finished with 244 career tackles, including 21.5 TFLs, 9.0 QB sacks and nine pass break-ups.

Played safety his first two seasons, including 12 starts in 2023, and switched to linebacker in the spring of 2024

Played 1,008 snaps in 2024, including 906 snaps on defense (second to Caleb Downs' 922).

Was named second-team all-Big Ten Conference as a junior (coaches' ballot) in 2024 after starting all 16 games at linebacker and finishing second on the team in tackles with 100.

His tackle total included 48 solo stops and 10.5 tackles for losses totaling 59 yards with six of those TFLs quarterback sacks.

Also had five pass break-ups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2024.

Was second on the team in tackles throughout Ohio State's College Football Playoff national championship run with 24 tackles in the four games.

Also had four tackles-for-loss, two sacks, two pass break-ups and a forced fumble in the playoffs.

Escorted Jack Sawyer into the end zone on his 83-yard, game-deciding scoop-and-score vs. Texas by strategically placing himself between Jack and the Longhorns in pursuit.

Established then-career-high of nine tackles in three of the team's biggest games last year: vs. Oregon (regular season), Penn State and Texas in the CFP semifinals at the Cotton Bowl.

In 2023 he ranked fifth on the team with 53 tackles and ranked fourth with 32 solo tackles.

He played in 12 games in 2022, and most of them as a 17-year-old true freshman. and totaled nine tackles on the season and one tackle-for-loss.

Has earned multiple OSU Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten honors and has graduated with his degree in sport industry.

Ohio State's male nominee in Spring 2025 for the Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award for striving to have a positive impact in sports and within the community.

Honors & Awards:

2025: First-team All-American (The Sporting News), team co-captain, Block "O" Award recipient, first-team All-Big Ten Conference, Academic All-Big Ten.

2024: Second-team All-Big Ten Conference (coaches poll), Academic All-Big Ten, OSU Scholar Athlete.

2023: Honorable mention All-Big Ten, Academic all-Big Ten, OSU Scholar Athlete

2022: OSU Scholar Athlete.

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