Lorenzo Styles Jr. is the fastest Buckeye in NFL Scouting Combine history.
The former Ohio State defensive back ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, becoming the first-ever Buckeye to break 4.3 seconds in the 40 at the combine.
Styles broke the previous record of 4.31 seconds, run by both Curtis Samuel (2017) and Parris Campbell (2019), for the fastest 40 time by a former Ohio State player since the combine began releasing official times.
Lorenzo Styles Jr.s official time: 4.27 https://t.co/TTUdVFQzUH
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 27, 2026
Styles’ 4.27 40 was the fastest time among all defensive players at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. It’s tied for the ninth-fastest 40 time among all players and tied for the fourth-fastest time among defensive backs in NFL Scouting Combine history.
He became the third Buckeye to lead his position group in the 40-yard dash at this year’s combine, joining Arvell Reese and his younger brother Sonny Styles, who tied for the fastest 40 among linebackers at 4.46 seconds.
THE STYLES CAM@OhioStateFB | @LorenzoStyles_ | @sonnystyles_
— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2026
2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
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While Reese and Sonny Styles were already projected as early first-round picks before the combine, Lorenzo Styles came into the combine needing a strong showing. He was not widely projected to be drafted entering the combine, but it would now be a big surprise if he isn’t drafted.
During his media interview session on Thursday, Styles acknowledged that he didn’t live up to his own expectations on the field at Ohio State, where he was the Buckeyes’ starting nickelback this past season after two years as a backup. But Styles, who started his college career as a wide receiver at Notre Dame before transferring to Ohio State in 2023, is confident his best football is still in front of him.
“I definitely wanted to do more, but I feel like everything turned out the way it was supposed to be,” Styles said. “Having the opportunity to go to Ohio State, I feel like it's developed me and prepared me for the NFL. There's going to be some hardships, so I had to go in and work my way up, do special teams. If the situation was different, I might have not done those things, so I think it's prepared me to have a long NFL career and perform.”
After Styles returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown last season, Ohio State wide receiver Brandon Inniss told reporters that Styles was the fastest player on the team. Styles proved that and then some with his 40 time on Friday, earning himself a bunch of money in the process.
