{"id":6787,"date":"2025-04-23T12:59:47","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T12:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787"},"modified":"2025-04-23T12:59:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T12:59:47","slug":"ohio-state-star-lands-most-flabbergasting-nfl-draft-take-yet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787","title":{"rendered":"Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet<\/strong><\/h1>\n

In the high-stakes world of NFL Draft preparation, few things are more certain than a projected first-round pick cashing in on their opportunity. But Ohio State linebacker and hybrid defensive weapon Sonny Styles stunned the football world with what many are calling the most flabbergasting NFL Draft take of the year\u2014maybe even the decade. In a move no one saw coming, Styles announced his return to Columbus for the 2025 season, passing on what would\u2019ve been a sure shot at the NFL’s millions.<\/p>\n

A Shockwave Across the Draft Landscape<\/h3>\n

At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds with elite sideline-to-sideline speed, instincts beyond his years, and the versatility to play linebacker, safety, or even rush the passer, Styles had skyrocketed up draft boards during the 2024 college football season. He was widely projected to be a top-20 pick in nearly every major mock draft.<\/p>\n

So when the news broke that Styles was passing on the draft, the response was instant.<\/p>\n

“You’re telling me a guy with first-round tape, elite physical tools, and a playoff r\u00e9sum\u00e9 is returning<\/em> to school? In this NIL era? This is unheard of,” one NFL scout told The Athletic<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Even Ohio State insiders were caught off guard. According to sources close to the program, head coach Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles were under the impression that Styles would declare for the draft. They had even begun preparing for life without him.<\/p>\n

Instead, Styles flipped the script.<\/p>\n

Sonny\u2019s Statement: Loyalty, Legacy, and a Little Bit More<\/h3>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not finished,\u201d Styles said in a social media video that instantly went viral. \u201cI came to Ohio State to win a national championship, to be the best version of myself, and to leave a legacy\u2014not just as a player, but as a man. I\u2019m not ready to go yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles\u2019 video was filled with clips of him sacking Michigan\u2019s quarterback, forcing a fumble in the College Football Playoff semifinal, and intercepting a key pass late in the season. It ended with a simple message: \u201cOne more year.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

According to reports, Styles turned down significant NIL deals to declare\u2014some sources estimate endorsement and licensing deals that could have made him $2\u20133 million even without stepping onto an NFL field.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows what he\u2019s worth,\u201d said Styles\u2019 father, former NFL first-round pick Lorenzo Styles Sr. \u201cBut this was never about just the money. He wants to grow, to lead, and to finish what he started.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 2024 Season That Set It All in Motion<\/h3>\n

Styles was dominant in 2024. He racked up 100 total tackles, 11 for loss, 6 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and 5 pass deflections. But it wasn\u2019t just the raw stats\u2014it was how<\/em> he impacted games.<\/p>\n

Against Penn State, Styles had 13 tackles, a strip sack, and a game-sealing interception. In The Game versus Michigan, he was arguably the best player on the field for either team, routinely sniffing out screens, jamming tight ends, and blowing up run plays in the backfield.<\/p>\n

Then came the Playoff semifinal, where Styles again played like a man possessed\u201410 tackles, 2 sacks, and a deflected pass on fourth down to seal the win.<\/p>\n

He was trending as one of the safest, highest-upside defensive prospects in the draft. So why stay?<\/p>\n

\u201cA Dying Breed\u201d: The Rare Player Who Waits<\/h3>\n

Styles\u2019 decision bucks the trend in the current landscape of college football. In an era of early declarations, transfer portal movement, and massive NIL contracts, most players opt for financial security the moment it becomes available. Even among those who return for a final season, few walk away from first-round draft guarantees.<\/p>\n

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller called Styles \u201ca dying breed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis kid is built like an NFL linebacker, moves like a DB, plays with fire\u2014and he\u2019s still just 20. He\u2019d be a top-20 pick. But he\u2019s coming back because he wants to finish a mission? You just don\u2019t see that anymore,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n

NFL veteran and Fox analyst Emmanuel Acho added his take: \u201cWe praise guys for chasing the bag. But Sonny is chasing greatness. That\u2019s different.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ripple Effects at Ohio State<\/h3>\n

With Styles back, Ohio State\u2019s defense could be the best in the country in 2025. Paired with sophomore sensation linebacker Arvell Reese, veteran D-lineman Jack Sawyer, and a talented secondary led by Denzel Burke, the Buckeyes are already drawing comparisons to Georgia\u2019s 2021 national title defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt changes everything,\u201d said DC Jim Knowles. \u201cWe were already going to be good, but Sonny\u2019s the glue. He\u2019s our Troy Polamalu. Our Isaiah Simmons. You can build around a guy like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teammates are already rallying around the return. Quarterback Devin Brown said Styles\u2019 decision \u201clit a fire in the locker room,\u201d while wide receiver Carnell Tate said, \u201cIf he\u2019s coming back to win it all, we all are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scouts React: \u201cUnreal, but Respect\u201d<\/h3>\n

NFL evaluators had a wide range of reactions.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s betting on himself, and you respect that. But he also risks injury, and if his play regresses or he gets exposed, it could cost him millions,\u201d one anonymous AFC executive told Pro Football Focus<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Another NFC scout offered a more optimistic view: \u201cThere\u2019s a leadership void in the NFL. Guys like Sonny? They win you games with culture. If anything, he just solidified himself as a future captain. That might increase<\/em> his value.\u201d<\/p>\n

One thing nearly everyone agreed on\u2014Styles will be one of the most closely watched prospects in 2025.<\/p>\n

What He Still Wants to Prove<\/h3>\n

In interviews, Styles has admitted he\u2019s not a finished product. While physically gifted, he believes there\u2019s more to learn about reading offenses, improving pass coverage, and working within multiple fronts.<\/p>\n

\u201cCoach Knowles has challenged me to become a complete player. That\u2019s what I want. I want to dominate every phase,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Styles also wants a national title. Ohio State hasn\u2019t won it all since 2014, and after a heartbreaking loss to Washington in the 2024 CFP final, he says that pain \u201cwill never leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember that locker room. I remember the seniors crying. I want to change that memory for us, for this program.\u201d<\/p>\n

NIL Is Keeping Stars Like Styles in School<\/h3>\n

While some were surprised by his return, the influence of NIL can\u2019t be ignored. Multiple insiders confirmed that Styles has already inked deals with several Columbus-area companies, and national brands are interested in marketing him as a \u201cthrowback star\u201d who values loyalty and legacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not hurting financially,\u201d one source said. \u201cAnd if they win it all next year? He might be worth even more in the draft and in NIL.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a new world in college football\u2014where the decision between declaring and returning is no longer just about escaping poverty or securing a signing bonus.<\/p>\n

Could It Start a Trend?<\/h3>\n

Styles\u2019 decision may open the door for other elite prospects to stay longer, especially if they have team goals or branding opportunities that outweigh early NFL entry.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m watching closely,\u201d Alabama safety Caleb Downs said when asked about his own draft prospects. \u201cSonny\u2019s setting a tone. That kind of move shows maturity. We\u2019ll see how it plays out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some analysts believe it could lead to more “gap year dominance” seasons, where future pros return with one goal: win everything and elevate their legacy.<\/p>\n

Betting on Himself<\/h3>\n

Sonny Styles isn\u2019t chasing headlines. He\u2019s not seeking approval. He\u2019s made a decision that defies NFL logic, challenges the norms of college football, and sets a new precedent for what it means to be \u201cdraft-ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

He could\u2019ve walked away with a seven-figure signing bonus. Instead, he\u2019s walking back into the Horseshoe with a mission.<\/p>\n

Legacy over luxury. Team over timeline. Growth over guarantees.<\/p>\n

And that, in this era of football, might just be the most flabbergasting\u2014and inspiring\u2014draft take yet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet In the high-stakes world of NFL Draft preparation, few things are more certain than a projected first-round pick cashing in … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":6790,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[476,478,479,480],"class_list":["post-6787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football","tag-ohio-state","tag-ohio-state-buckeyes-news","tag-ohio-state-football-news","tag-ohio-state-news"],"yoast_head":"\nOhio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In the high-stakes world of NFL Draft preparation, few things are more certain than a projected first-round pick cashing in on their oppor...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the high-stakes world of NFL Draft preparation, few things are more certain than a projected first-round pick cashing in on their oppor...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Asport\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-23T12:59:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Admin1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Admin1\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Admin1\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09\"},\"headline\":\"Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-23T12:59:47+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787\"},\"wordCount\":1336,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"\",\"keywords\":[\"Ohio State\",\"Ohio State Buckeyes News\",\"Ohio State Football News\",\"Ohio State News\"],\"articleSection\":[\"FOOTBALL\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787\",\"name\":\"Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-23T12:59:47+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09\"},\"description\":\"In the high-stakes world of NFL Draft preparation, few things are more certain than a projected first-round pick cashing in on their oppor...\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"\",\"contentUrl\":\"\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?p=6787#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/\",\"name\":\"Asport\",\"description\":\"Always for Sport\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09\",\"name\":\"Admin1\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Admin1\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/asport.com.ng\\\/?author=6\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet","description":"In the high-stakes world of NFL Draft preparation, few things are more certain than a projected first-round pick cashing in on their oppor...","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet","og_description":"In the high-stakes world of NFL Draft preparation, few things are more certain than a projected first-round pick cashing in on their oppor...","og_url":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787","og_site_name":"Asport","article_published_time":"2025-04-23T12:59:47+00:00","author":"Admin1","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Admin1","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787"},"author":{"name":"Admin1","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09"},"headline":"Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet","datePublished":"2025-04-23T12:59:47+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787"},"wordCount":1336,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"","keywords":["Ohio State","Ohio State Buckeyes News","Ohio State Football News","Ohio State News"],"articleSection":["FOOTBALL"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787","url":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787","name":"Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"","datePublished":"2025-04-23T12:59:47+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09"},"description":"In the high-stakes world of NFL Draft preparation, few things are more certain than a projected first-round pick cashing in on their oppor...","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787#primaryimage","url":"","contentUrl":""},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?p=6787#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Ohio State Star Lands Most Flabbergasting NFL Draft Take Yet"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/#website","url":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/","name":"Asport","description":"Always for Sport","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/a63da2e56319023144668e6717055c09","name":"Admin1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3f1a3acc2b5542dbfb9acb9f1c3f1ed07e528b7aa9bb345a0ba2eaa8c84ffb0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Admin1"},"url":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/?author=6"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6787"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6787\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}