Get to know Pickerington (Ohio) Central five-star safety Sonny Styles, who signed his National Letter of Intent with Ohio State on Wednesday.
Height, Weight: 6-4, 215.
247 Composite Rankings: He’s rated as the 13th overall prospect, best safety and the No. 2 recruit out of Ohio.
Commitment Date: Styles committed to Ohio State on Nov. 13, 2021.
Other P5 Offers: Alabama, Boston College, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia.
How he did in high school: Though he cut his career short by enrolling at Ohio State a year early, Styles was tremendously impactful in his three seasons with Pickerington Central, one of Ohio’s best high school programs. He had 55 tackles as the Tigers rattled off a 12-2 record with a berth in the fourth round of the Division I playoffs before being knocked out by unbeaten Upper Arlington.
Why he committed to Ohio State: Styles was not considered a given for the Buckeyes, despite his proximity to campus and his familial tie to Ohio State, with his dad Lorenzo Sr. playing defensive end for John Cooper. Notre Dame, which recruited his brother Lorenzo Jr. a year ago, pushed hard for his pledge and was considered a serious threat to the Buckeyes for much of his recruitment.
However, the youngest Styles ultimately decided to stay home, opting to jump up a class in the process so that he could sign as a member of the 2022 class and arrive to campus a year early.
Where he fits in for 2022: It’s hard to say with Styles. He’s the most talented player in the class of 2022 and one of the nation’s best young players, but he’s also a year behind everyone else in his class. He’s absolutely good enough to see the field and could be an immediate star at the bullet position, but with an entrenched starter there in Ronnie Hickman and Styles’ age to consider, Ohio State may opt to bring him along slowly.
