"Styles's 43½-inch vertical jump was the highest by an off-ball linebacker at the combine since 2003 and the second-highest by any linebacker in that span behind Cameron Wake's 45½-inch jump in 2005. At 6-foot-5, 244 pounds, Styles, rated No. 7 on ESPN insider Mel Kiper Jr.'s big board, also had a 4.46 clocking in the 40-yard dash to go with an 11-foot-2-inch broad jump."
"To put Styles' vertical jump into context, it was better than Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who at 6-5, 239 pounds, had a 42½-inch vertical jump at the 2007 combine. Styles' jump was also better than current Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori, whose 43-inch jump was the best at the 2025 combine."
"I think I would say that -- the great defenses you look at, there's at least two or three guys who can play a multitude of roles. Like for example, this year for the Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori was a versatile player, and when you have guys like that on your defense, you're able to do a lot of different things."
Sonny Styles, a projected top-10 pick from Ohio State, delivered an exceptional performance at the NFL combine's first night of on-field workouts. His 43½-inch vertical jump ranks as the highest by an off-ball linebacker in over two decades, second only to Cameron Wake's 45½-inch jump in 2005. At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, Styles also ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, matching his teammate Arvell Reese for the best time Thursday night. His 11-foot-2-inch broad jump was the best among all participants that evening. Styles' vertical exceeded Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson's 42½-inch jump and the 2025 combine's best safety mark. He emphasized the importance of defensive versatility for modern NFL teams.
Read at ESPN.com
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