5-star 2023 ATH Sonny Styles raves after visit to Clemson

The early signing period of the Class of 2022 is a little less than three months away, but 2023 Pickering (Ohio) Central ATH Sonny Styles is a top target for a number of programs already in heavy pursuit.

Rated the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2023 On3 Top 100, Styles holds offers from Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame and Clemson among many others. This past weekend, he visited Clemson and took in the Tigers’ 14-8 win over Georgia Tech, which he came away quite impressed with.

Had an amazing time in Death Valley!! Special thanks to, @dmcdani2 @CoachConn !!! #ALLIN 🐅🐅 pic.twitter.com/PjUe8F9YYV

— Alex “Sonny” Styles (@sonnystyles_) September 20, 2021

Styles can play all over the field

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Sonny Styles, the son of former Buckeyes player Lorenzo Styles, projects as a potential star at multiple positions at the college level. And he’s being recruited as such. He picked up an offer from his father’s alma mater early in his sophomore season and has seen his stock continue to blow up since then. He hasn’t announced his favorites, and with more than 15 months until the 2023 early signing period begins, he has the opportunity to take plenty of visits.

“I don’t have any set dates but I’m gonna try to get as many schools I can,” Styles told Lettermen Row in April. “Schools like Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State. My dad is close to one of the coaches at North Carolina, Dre Bly, so I’m going to go there, see an old friend. I’m going to try to go see as many as I can.”

Because of his connections to Ohio State and Notre Dame, where his older brother Lorenzo Jr. is a freshman wide receiver, those two teams figure to factor in significantly. But don’t count Dabo Swinney and Clemson out, especially after Sonny’s recent visit. The Tigers have a strong recent history on the defensive side of the ball. Styles fits into a similar mold as ex-Tiger and current Arizona Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons.

Numerous schools have hosted Sonny Styles already

Since June, Styles has either camped at or taken an unofficial visit to: Clemson, Florida, Ole Miss, Florida State, North Carolina and Michigan State. He’s yet to announce any future trips after this one, but it seems likely he’ll head to South Bend to see his brother at Notre Dame. And as mentioned earlier, he hopes to take a trip to see Michigan.

“Relationships are important to me, so getting to talk with coaches in person this fall is big,” he told On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons. “I want to play in a good atmosphere, so seeing games are important.”

With so much time left in his recruitment and schools still getting involved for the top-ranked athlete in the 2023 class, Styles’ process looks to be far from over.

Why is Sonny Styles a 5-star?

On3 Director of Scouting Charles Power believes Styles has a chance to be a “unicorn-like” prospect and had this to say recently:

“On top of the unique dimensions, Sonny Styles registers as an elite athlete,” Power said. “He ran an electronically-timed 4.67-seconds 40-yard dash on grass at an Under Armour camp this spring. You might look at that time and not be overly impressed. Rest assured, it stacks up very well relative to the fastest prospects in the country, regardless of position. For reference, we have prospects who run 10.6 seconds in the 100 meters who have run in the 4.7’s under similar clocks. In addition to the speed, all of Styles’ other athletic markers are as good as you’ll see at any position. He’s more athletic in the combine setting than most of the nation’s top defensive back prospects.”