Both Styles brothers have been selected in the 2026 NFL draft.
Lorenzo Styles Jr. became the third member of his family to go from Ohio State to the NFL as the New Orleans Saints selected the former Ohio State defensive back with the No. 172 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL draft.
Developed Here!! pic.twitter.com/31C5qQhC2o
— Ryan Day (@ryandaytime) April 25, 2026
Styles’ younger brother, former Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, was selected by the Washington Commanders with the No. 7 overall pick. Sonny and Lorenzo are the first-ever pair of brothers from Ohio State to be selected in the same NFL draft, and the sixth overall pair of brothers to play for the Buckeyes to become NFL draft picks.
| Year | Round | Pick | Older Brother | Pos | Team | Year | Round | Pick | Younger Brother | Pos | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | 11 | 106 | LIN HOUSTON | G | BEARS | 1960 | 1 | 8 | JIM HOUSTON | LB | BROWNS |
| 1945 | 2 | 12 | JACK DUGGER | E | STEELERS | 1955 | 4 | 46 | DEAN DUGGER | E | EAGLES |
| 1976 | 1 | 24 | ARCHIE GRIFFIN | RB | BENGALS | 1978 | 2 | 35 | RAY GRIFFIN | DB | BENGALS |
| 2016 | 1 | 3 | JOEY BOSA | DE | CHARGERS | 2019 | 1 | 2 | NICK BOSA | DE | 49ERS |
| 2020 | 3 | 73 | DAVON HAMILTON | DT | JAGUARS | 2025 | 5 | 148 | TY HAMILTON | DT | RAMS |
| 2026 | 1 | 7 | SONNY STYLES | LB | COMMANDERS | 2026 | 5 | 172 | LORENZO STYLES JR. | DB | SAINTS |
Their father, Lorenzo Styles, also played for the Buckeyes and was selected in the third round of the 1995 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
| Year | Round | Pick | Father | Pos | Team | Year | Round | Pick | Son | Pos | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 1 | 3 | HOPALONG CASSADY | RB | LIONS | 1976 | 8 | 213 | CRAIG CASSADY | DB | SAINTS |
| 1979 | 5 | 136 | RON SPRINGS | RB | COWBOYS | 1997 | 1 | 3 | SHAWN SPRINGS | CB | SEAHAWKS |
| 1983 | 11 | 307 | TIM SPENCER | RB | CHARGERS | 2015 | 6 | 187 | EVAN SPENCER | WR | COMMANDERS |
| 1995 | 3 | 77 | LORENZO STYLES | LB | FALCONS | 2026 | 1 | 7 | SONNY STYLES | LB | COMMANDERS |
| 5 | 172 | LORENZO STYLES JR. | DB | SAINTS |
Styles goes to the NFL after three years with the Buckeyes in which he played 34 games as a defensive back and on special teams, recording 46 tackles and seven pass deflections.
Ohio State's 2026 NFL Draft Picks
- Carnell Tate: Round 1, No. 4, Tennessee Titans
- Arvell Reese: Round 1, No. 5, New York Giants
- Sonny Styles: Round 1, No. 7, Washington Commanders
- Caleb Downs: Round 1, No. 11, Dallas Cowboys
- Kayden McDonald: Round 2, No. 36, Houston Texans
- Max Klare: Round 2, No. 61, Los Angeles Rams
- Davison Igbinosun: Round 2, No. 62, Buffalo Bills
- Will Kacmarek: Round 3, No. 87. Miami Dolphins
- Lorenzo Styles Jr.: Round 5, No. 172, New Orleans Saints
A versatile DB who played both nickel and safety for Ohio State, Styles was the fastest defensive player at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.27-second 40-yard dash.
Styles began his collegiate career at Notre Dame as a wide receiver, playing in 26 games over two seasons and catching 54 passes for 684 yards and two touchdowns. Styles transferred to Ohio State in 2023, switching to the defensive side of the ball as he believed it would give him a better chance of playing in the NFL.
Even though Styles admitted at the NFL Scouting Combine that he didn’t perform up to his own expectations at Ohio State, saying “I definitely wanted to do more,” his decision to become a Buckeye defensive back ultimately paid off with the opportunity to play in the NFL.
Styles is the 70th all-time Ohio State defensive back to be selected in the NFL draft, the most of any school.
He joins a Saints roster that includes three other former Ohio State players: Chris Olave, Pete Werner and Chase Young.
Styles is the ninth Buckeye to be selected in the 2026 draft, joining first-round selections Carnell Tate (No. 4 overall, Titans), Arvell Reese (No. 5, Giants), Sonny Styles (No. 7, Commanders) and Caleb Downs (No. 11, Cowboys), second-round selections McDonald, Max Klare (No. 61, Rams) and Davison Igbinosun (No. 62, Bills) and third-round pick Will Kacmarek (No. 87, Dolphins).
