Scarlet Sunrise: Sonny Styles has solidified himself as Buckeyes starting safety this offseason

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Sonny Styles has solidified himself as Buckeyes starting safety this offseason

Former Clemson star safety-turned-linebacker Isaiah Simmons is a popular comparison for Ohio State sophomore “unicorn” Sonny Styles.

But the 18-year-old Buckeyes safety reminds defensive coordinator Jim Knowles of someone else: one-time Ohio State safety Jeremy Cash, who wound up starring at Duke with Knowles as his DC.

Before bouncing around the NFL for a few years, Cash earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2015 and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy that season.

“He was considered a DB but he was really almost like an outside linebacker,” Knowles recalled earlier this week. “Sonny, that’s kind of the body type there.”

Knowles said that Styles has solidified himself as a Buckeyes starting safety this offseason, along with Lathan Ransom. The last remaining starting safety spot is up for grabs, as of Monday at least.

Styles — the younger brother of Lorenzo Styles Jr., now a cornerback for the Buckeyes after transferring from Notre Dame, and the son of former Ohio State linebacker Lorenzo Styles Sr. — was the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2022 class after reclassifying at nearby Pickerington Central. Styles played 69 defensive snaps last year, including 12 in the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia.

“He’s definitely a guy we’re going to have on the field as much as we can,” Knowles said of Styles. “He can match up to both 11- and 12-personnel. When people bring in two tight ends, he gives us a lot more versatility.”

Styles is poised to start at what’s been traditionally known as the “nickel,” or slot safety/corner, position in Knowles’ 4-2-5 system. Oklahoma State grad transfer Tanner McCalister held that role last year, but, when Styles is lining up there, it looks significantly different.

That’s why Knowles is toying with calling it something like the “strike” position.

“That has been made mainly a third corner, DB type of spot for me,” Knowles said. “And then you get into a lot of situations where there’s still a tight end in that matchup there and not a slot. And then you’re kind of just trying to hold up with a nickel.”

Knowles continued: “And what I saw in Sonny is that he has the ability to play high safety, to play man coverage, but he also has the length and the toughness to play up close to the ball. So you play him in that nickel, strike position and now you have a lot more flexibility in terms of ‘OK, is he man on the slot, is he zone, is he inside, is he outside, is he blitzing off the edge?’

“He just creates a whole ‘nother dynamic.”

That’s because Styles is “interchangeable against all personnels,” Knowles said.

Bold Predictions as Buckeyes set sights on B1G crown, national title

With the 2023 season right around the corner, Lettermen Row is bringing back its weekly “Bold Predictions” series.

The staff is making predictions about the Ohio State season. That includes team and individual Buckeyes predictions for a pivotal year, head coach Ryan Day’s fifth at the helm of the program.

Big Ten bragging rights are on the line, and the itch for a national title in Columbus continues to grow.

Find out what our crew thinks will happen this fall.

RELATED

• Staff picks: Will Buckeyes return to College Football Playoff?

Where does Ohio State stand with safety target Zaquan Patterson ahead of decision day?

Four-star Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep safety Zaquan Patterson is prepared to announce where he will be committing Saturday.

Ohio State, Florida State, Auburn, Miami and Michigan are in the mix for Patterson, the No. 3 safety in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

So, do the Buckeyes have a chance of landing the 6-foot-1, 185-pound safety?

Lettermen Row explores with an overview of Patterson’s recruiting timeline. Check it out here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 7 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 91 days

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